Madam, - Those who wish to justify the US-led invasion and occupation of Iraq often accuse the opposite camp of being "anti-American". Those who oppose the invasion stress that although they are against current American foreign policy, they are not anti-American.
The intended slur echoes President Bush's simplistic post-September 11th pronouncement that "You're either with us or against us", with its rejection of any shades of opinion or dissent from the official line.
While such black-and-white thinking is in itself a sad reflection on the mindset of the world's only superpower, it also prompts the question of what exactly is meant by "anti-American". It is surely not the total rejection of all things American as there would be few, if any, who would subscribe to that. However, if "Americanism" currently implies deciding, unilaterally and with a disdainful disregard for international bodies and much of world opinion, to threaten, invade and occupy other countries on the basis of unsubstantiated charges and at the risk of serious regional and possibly global destabilisation, then I, for one, would welcome the label. - Yours, etc.,
SWITHUN GOODBODY,
Villierstown,
Co Waterford.
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Madam, - Establishing four "permanent" US military bases and moving the Iraqi oil currency from euro to dollar is not my idea of liberation! - Yours, etc.,
KEITH NOLAN,
Caldragh,
Co Leitrim.