With regard to the recent terrorist atrocities in the US, no group has claimed responsibility, let alone tell us why they did it. But there appears to be no lack of self-righteous Malaysians who are ready to appoint themselves as little mouthpieces of the terrorists.

Was it their agenda to end the sanctions in Iraq? Or discourage US backing of Israel? Or avenge the Vietnamese/Sudanese/Palestinians/Japanese? We cannot presume to know unless they tell us.

Apart from the US supposedly getting its just dessert, it might be worth remembering that the impact was felt in practically all the share markets of the world. And should the US be tipped into recession as feared, the rest of us, Malaysia included, can hardly have a cause to celebrate.

It is not surprising that a country as large and rich and powerful as the US should attract feelings of deep antipathy, Malaysians included. If, however, the world is to be reduced to just one superpower, I am glad that it is the US and not Russia, China, Iraq or Afghanistan.