DID I really read (Oxford Mail, January 27) Chris Halford’s pathetic eulogy to the good old USA?

Does he know nothing of the history of Haiti, and how the USA strangled the island economically?

In 1979 the USA imposed the Caribbean Basin Initiative, designed to benefit US firms, not the Haitians.

The 1995 reduction of imported rice tariffs destroyed the livelihood of 50,000 Haitian farmers. These are just two examples of the control the USA has, especially in that region.

How many of those farmers perished in Port-au-Prince as they scavenged for a living, after being driven from the countryside?

Cuba already had 400 doctors and medical staff in Haiti, thereby beating the USA. Cuba sent doctors; the USA sent soldiers.

It was striking how so many different news reporters were critical of the US forces, who failed to get aid to the people, while controlling the airport. Their main concern seemed to be their own business interests.

Mr Halford regards the good old USA as the most powerful nation. He also stated they were the most generous.

Ask the Afghans who were demonstrating in their thousands after US forces killed four kids in the Nangarhar province on January 3. What about the accusation from the Afghan government (their ally), that US troops dragged 10 Afghans out of their beds and shot them at close range.

How many Afghan weddings have been blitzed? What about Fallujah in Iraq? Dare I mention My Lai in Vietnam? The list goes on.

Bombing the blazes out of a country, then offering aid or helping to rebuild it strikes me as a little bit of adverse thinking.

The Haitians, the first people to revolt against slavery way back in 1792, deserve more.

God bless America; stuff everyone else!

TIM W SIRET, Evans Road, Eynsham