With regards your articles on United States Ambassador Marie T. Huhtala, I felt the interview was much like that of the mainstream media.

Mainstream media sees interviews as an opportunity for the interviewees to explain issues in their own words.

This is similar to the way you tailored your interview with the Ambassador, such as leading her on with questions such as "some argue the US Patriots Act is similar to the ISA".

This somehow suggests that the "some" does not include yourself .

Do you tend to practice double standards - one for interviewing foreigners and another reserved for Malaysians?

As for the interview, the Ambassador generally conducted herself creditably. However, I suspect the interview only succeeded in reinforcing the views of those who normally hang onto every word the US utters, while changing none of those with a more skeptical bent.

I wonder if the Ambassador's tone is a product of her own nature or the result of Sept 11? Either way, it is to be welcomed. The US may have certain views, but so does Malaysia. But the onus is definitely on the US to choose its words much more carefully as no other country can match its global resonance when it speaks.