I write in response to Paul Ouimette's letter, 'US should review its policies?' (Oct 1) in which he said: "We need to take a good hard look at what is in our best interest." Unfortunately, "our" in his statement refers to the US alone. Well, that's precisely the problem, isn't it? As long as the US continues to take only its interests into consideration, we will continue to live in this vicious cycle of violence, poverty, oppression and environmental destruction.

Are you suggesting that the Third World or anyone that receives a handout from the US must adhere to all its policies or regulations whether just or unjust? In other words, we must not bite the hand that feeds us, even if we are fed poison. I recognise the millions of dollars spent by the US, Canada and other developed nations on humanitarian aid in less developed economies but I have to say that much of this aid comes with many strings attached. Chng's response, 'Strings attached to American aid' (Oct 2), addresses this well.

US efforts to minimise hunger in impoverished nations or accept refugees from "flesh-eating monsters" do not mean that its policies should be free of scrutiny. This is not the first time that US foreign policies have been questioned, but in the light of current events and the fight against terrorism, its policies as well as trade agreements worldwide must be reviewed.

The fact is that the US will not be the superpower it is today, if it didn't have the rest of the world buy into its idea of development, capitalism and prosperity.

I don't think that it is an unreasonable request to have the US review its foreign policies or trade treaties, but I do think that the writer's response is the very arrogance that many nations and people are fed up of.

The US has consciously taken on the role of world leader/police/superpower, and with leadership comes responsibility, including social and moral responsibility; responsibility to its citizens, and to the voices of the world that have been urging the US to review its foreign policies and trade treaties for many years now, but have received very little response.

To an extent our economies are interdependent and if his suggestion is that we had better be careful with what we wish for because the US may just close its doors to the world, I hope the writer will remember that his Tommy Hillfiger T-shirt will start to cost a lot more.

We need to start working cooperatively, in a way that takes into consideration the interests of other nations as well, if we are going to foster any kind of understanding and compassion among the people and governments worldwide.