I've had enough of America and its show of power around the world. Even though I usually protest the many high-handed ways of our government, I am behind Deputy Premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's statement that America's ultimatum to Saddam is totally unjustified, illegal and immoral.

Well done, Pak Lah! As the acting PM, he sure looks like he is getting up o­n the right side of the bed for now.

What would we do if we were forced to wear Iraq's shoes? You and I might not like Dr Mahathir Mohamad's leadership in many aspects, but if the sovereignty of our land is challenged, what would you do?

Would we support US President George W Bush to force Mahathir to step down and send him and his family into exile or would put aside all our economical, racial and religious differences and stand behind Mahathir as a nation to fight Bush till the end?

Would we stand and watch the US trample o­n everything our nation has built with their weapons, army and arrogance? Then accept them as 'friends' and 'brothers' who are going to help re-build our nation?

I for o­ne would pledge "'Till death do us part" to my homeland, as had many of our past warriors who died fighting for freedom from the British colonialists. I would shoot arrows, sling-shoot stones and even throw 'chili-boh' packets at the aggressors to defend my home.

But that's hypothetical. The reality is now upon the Iraqis. What would they do? No matter how cruel Saddam Hussein is, can the Iraqis let the US take over their country in an unjustified aggressive method and then be friends with them to re-build the nation? Apparently, yes, according to Bush, who must be in dreamland if he remembers Vietnam at all.

It's ironic that the world has to take such nonsense from a man who does not even know what he is talking about.

Malaysia has made its stand o­n the war; what is our next action plan? What are we going to do to show our protest against the American aggression? Are we going to ask our foreign minister Syed Hamid Albar to do anything? (Though after the way he handled the Singaporean and Indian crises it's best this option is omitted.)

Are we going to boycott Hollywood movies and sitcoms, stop sending our government-funded students to the US, stop buying American music CDs, stop eating at McDonald's, give up Jack Daniel and Marlboro, stop wearing Levi's, or o­n a bigger scale, stop American imports?

So Pak Lah, it's time to see some action besides the bold words. What can we as a nation do to make the US feel our protest (I don't mean violence)? Is this possible or over the years have we become overly dependent o­n America for all our business and trade needs?