Sir, - Vincent Browne's sanctimonious diatribe criticising NATO and in particular the US (Opinion, June 16th) shows how easy it is to be an armchair critic. John de Courcy Ireland's letters make the US seem like the devil incarnate.
Poor Old Uncle Sam is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. We are blamed for spreading AIDS; for being too arrogant; for being too loud; for being overweight; for smoking big cigars. We are blamed for pollution; for global warming; for having too many guns; for violence in our cities and in our schools. We are blamed for being late in coming to Europe's aid in the second World War; for not helping the Brits, France and Israel fight Egypt; for re-arming Germany and Japan; and for many more things we have done or not done. All the world's evils are caused by the US, or so it would seem.
As a concerned US taxpayer, I would be very happy if my country ceased involvement, especially in Europe. But would Europe have the guts to act? Would Europeans, including the Irish such as Vincent Browne and John de Courcy Ireland, pay my share or their fair share and have their sons and daughters shoulder their responsibilities in Europe?
If Bosnia and Kosovo are examples, I doubt it. - Yours, etc., Henry P. Hall,
Southport, North Carolina, USA.