The Editor, Sir:

The very positive international response to the possibility of Barack Obama becoming president of the United States of America has given humanity cause for hope.

There are some persons among us who think that Jamaicans believe that a chariot of opportunities will be made available to us if Obama wins. I don't think that most Jamaicans are so moved. What I think we are hoping for is a confident and dignified USA government without bluster and hypocrisy who will lead the world.

Genesis of economic crisis

As far as I am concerned, the current global economic crisis had its genesis with President Bush's unjustified war on Iraq. How do you destroy a civilisation without consequences? When the bombs started to reign terror on Iraq, I could not help remembering 1979 when then Prime Minister Michael Manley and I sat down with Saddam Hussein and his deputy Tariq Azziz (two of us are still alive) to negotiate a loan for a new initiative in the bauxite sector.On conclusion of the negotiations, the President gave us quite a brief on the history of Mesopotamia/Iraq.

The fact is, Iraq has had severe tribal problems beginning before Christ was born and at no time was democracy an option. I don't want to be hopelessly nostalgic but quite frankly, the USA needs to correct the problems in its electoral system before they try to export democracy.

Beyond margin of fraud

For the remaining days of campaign, Obama must continue to ensure that certain critical states that are strategic to his victory will be put beyond the margin of fraud. The margin of error may be plus or minus three to four per cent but the margin of fraud could be five per cent or above.

To Obama and his team, we are praying for your success and God's blessings.

The world is waiting with bated breath!

I am, etc.,

HORACE A. CLARKE, OJ