Sir, - The crisis in the Gulf illustrates the inability of the United States to perceive the world without demons. Edward Said, in his book Orientalism, has addressed the issue at great length, pointing to the fact that with the demise of a monolithic Communist threat the US has substituted the Arab world as "the enemy" in its world crusade for peace - or peace on American terms, at any rate.
Furthermore, since 1945 the US has searched constantly for proving grounds (Vietnam, Angola, Cuba) for its credibility as a great power. Iraq is just unfortunate enough to have been designated as a suitable test case for American power in 1998. America's true imperial nature has been revealed by its insatiable drive to establish a global economic system congenial to its interests in the 20th century, particularly in Asia and Latin America.
In 1918 Joseph Schumpeter painted a haunting picture of imperial Rome caught up in the terrors of an ageing civilisation which could be equally applied to the US and its actions abroad: "Rome was always being attacked by evil-minded neighbours. The whole world was pervaded by a host of enemies and it was manifestly Rome's duty to guard against their indubitably aggressive designs. They were enemies who only waited to fall on the Roman people." The parallels between the two empires should be borne in mind when we are observing the American move toward war in the Middle East, to "save the world from Saddam Hussein" (as one American commentator put it). - Yours, etc.,
Douglas, Co Cork.