Daniel Lak's most recent column tells it like it is. I am astounded at the arrogant brutality and cynical deception being perpetrated by 'my' government, I am a seasoned veteran of war protest having devoted several years of my life to work to stop the Vietnam war. Now, 30 years later we have an unelected president (how quickly we forget that he 'won' by a rigged election), 95 percent of our daily news is controlled by two or three mega-corporations with direct ties to our highest officials and there are rumours of the US moving into Syria. The Patriot Act has stripped Americans of many of our civil rights.

George Bush has not requested one penny for the reconstruction of Afghanistan, and more than a year after our 'victory' there the people are worse off than ever. It is indeed difficult to feel any kind of optimism in the face of such mindless destruction and greed.

H Dirlam,
North Carolina, USA