THE EDITOR, Sir:
THIS IS a response to the American gentleman warning us to be careful of our anti-war opinions and an open letter to everyone who believes that we must blindly pledge allegiance to Bush.
You are distressed because you see no letters calling for Saddam to abandon his weapons. Which weapons? The ones the inspectors have not found? We are a sovereign nation and as such are entitled to express whatever opinion we see fit. The US is a belligerent and arrogant nation which is incredibly unskilled at diplomacy.
No we are not saying that "all we need is love", but let the inspectors continue to do their job. You lavishly, rudely and immaturely criticise the French and Kofi Annan in your press but are cocky enough to give us lessons. Stop criticising the US or else what?... you will attack us too?
Saddam Hussein is not bin Laden he did not attack America. True he is a dictator, but so is the Saudi government (15 hijackers came from Saudi Arabia) and in Jordan (your "allies" by the way) and in Iran and in North Korea and in China and several countries in North and Sub Saharan Africa the list goes on to more than 50 nations are you going to invade and depose these too?
So Bill Clinton was weak and what, Bush is strong? Going about spewing "you are either with us or against us" and killing innocent people in Iraq constitutes strong? Seventy per cent of Americans have been influenced by an incredibly war-loving media and your gun culture, it does not mean they are right.
Sure, we need your tourist dollars but we will not be your whore. Do not worry about Jamaica "gaining international respect" we are more respected on the international scene right now than the Americans are. If you can take your eyes off the strength of your B52s an instant you will see the growing international outcry.
You want to know what earthly good can be had by criticising? Well: it is called democracy, sir.
I am etc.,
SONDRE COLLY-DURAND
sdurand@worldonline.fr
Via Go-Jamaica
