May not and does not

I refer to the letter from Darul Aqsha On Islam-Israel ties published in The Jakarta Post on Dec. 3, 1999. Darul Aqsha is in immediate need of a course in reading. He should do people the courtesy of reading their correspondence properly before taking up cudgels against them.

In my letter about Israel's illegal acts, I did not say it "does not" destroy mosques but "may not". "May not" (possibility) does not mean "does not", does it? It admits an area of uncertainty, does it not?

Mr. Darul then says "I do not know whether Dirk Vleugels, David Jardine or Kevin Price intentionally manipulated the facts". This is the one "that has gone to the wrong address". Since I said "may not", I am quite happy to accept the charge that Israeli illegal acts include the vandalism of mosques, having had Darul jog my memory. And I am quite happy to remind him that if he reads the writings of one of America's most famous living Jews, Noam Chomsky, he will find support where he might not expect it.

DAVID JARDINE

Jakarta