Madam, - Although I agree with a few of Toby Joyce's criticisms of George W. Bush (February 22nd), I think Mr Joyce is being slightly premature with his labelling. I cannot believe that the title of "worst president" would not be hotly contended. But what makes Mr Joyce's view rather less than convincing is the list of five problems which he apparently believes the Bush administration should have tackled.
He writes of "an administration that could have made more decisive moves towards ending Aids in Africa, could have halted the Darfur genocide, could have moved the Middle East closer to peace, could have led the way in the vital decisions that need to be made about climate change, could have rallied the world around a new vision for human rights and collective action".
The snag is that whether or not Mr Bush believes he has been elected by God rather than by the American people, this splendid programme would certainly require someone with divine capabilities to implement it.
In the more familiar world of human failure there is this wretched thing called democracy. It often works very badly and "collective action" just happens to be one of the areas where democracy is at its populist worst. Afghanistan is a case in point. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL TATHAM,
Bedford,
England.
*****
Madam, - Toby Joyce made a compelling case for the proposition that George Bush has proved to be "the worst U.S. president ever".
This damning assessment has now become widely accepted by a broad sweep of US politicians and commentators and even, belatedly, among the American public. So I am amazed that there has been little reaction in your Letters page to Mr Joyce's comments.
Does this mean that your readers are largely unconcerned about the threat posed to the world by the US administration, which is currently warming up for an attack on Iran, while Iraq and Afghanistan are still mired in murderous and futile conflict?
On March 17th the Taoiseach will go, one hand clutching a bowl of shamrock, the other metaphorically tipping his forelock, to pay homage to this appalling president.
Instead of this now debased ritual, some other way should be found to symbolise the historic relationship between the peoples of the US and Ireland.
Last Saturday at Croke Park, we showed that we have finally come to terms with the ancient imperial enemy. Can we not now extract ourselves from the clutches of the current one? - Yours, etc,
JERRY CROWLEY,
Belgrove Lawn,
Chapelizod,
Dublin 20.