U.S. breeds enmity with hostilities against foreign powers
It was both gladdening and saddening to learn of President Obama’s visit to Laos. Gladdening because of his choice to visit and offer to increase assistance to $90 million for clearing unexploded ordinance there. Saddening because it was ordinance that our government dropped on a country that was not at war with us, killing an estimated 350,000 civilians, and because the president did not offer an apology for our immoral actions.
If we choose to investigate crimes our government has similarly committed against people of other countries, we will learn why “they hate us.” Trying to control the world is not an endearing approach to making friends.
John Steinmeyer
Bradenton
This story was originally published September 13, 2016 at 2:17 PM with the headline "U.S. breeds enmity with hostilities against foreign powers."