Empire strikes back

Empire strikes back

How things can escalate unnecessarily. What do recent remarks on the structure of the English language have to do with "who won the war?" Mr. Jon Morrison (The Jakarta Post, Feb. 17, 1996), you are plainly a candidate for some free plastic surgery, and I advise caution when frequenting some of the drinking establishments of Jakarta.

No there is no longer an Empire, and a large reason for its demise was the funding of two monstrous World Wars, the last one when it alone initially stemmed Hitler's aggression for two long years. Where was the U.S. for these two years, whilst the rest of us were getting our full share of deprivation? I will tell you, charging a bloody fortune for war materials, even though Truman tried many times for more direct involvement. If not for Japanese aggression how long would it have taken? Mr. Morrison, you are out of order, and many will have been upset by your snide remarks regarding war involvement, not least the Russian people who with great sacrifice did much to halt Hitler's advance.

As regards your comments on John Major, dynamic he may not be, but he does at least have a strong resolve on the subject of terrorism, not something that can be said of Bill Clinton, who openly endorses a well known front for a terrorist group. Whatever happened to that old alliance? Maybe that has gone to your new friend Japan.

Lastly let us not forget who your main ally is when the U.S. require support in the UN, something for which the "new administration" is hardly deserving. The U.S. is now the world's policeman, a mantle once undertaken by the Empire, and never an easy or pleasant duty to undertake. However, at least it knows where it can rely on for immediate and active ground support, not bad for a so-called "nothing."

STUART MARSH

Jakarta