President George W Bush?s current visit to the Middle East presents a rare opportunity for the US and countries in the region to erase the mistrust that persist between them. Generally, there is a fallacious belief in the Middle East that the US is waging a war against Islam. Yet, in the US now, Barack Obama, an African-American with strong Muslim roots in his youth, is a presidential candidate. Can a Christian hope to be a head of state in some Islamic countries? The US has made strenuous efforts for Middle East peace in the last 20 years. Why would any US president waste his time and energy on the Palestine issue except to ensure stability in the region? It?s true that the US does have a strong interest in West Asian oil. But then, people in the region must realise that the US is the biggest customer of oil from that troubled region. You can?t fight and deride your biggest customer all the time. Then, you are driving yourself out of business!
?Rajendra Aneja, Dubai
All shook up
As Ratan Tata said, a promise is after all a promise. Living up to that promise, he has rolled out a car at a price affordable for a large section of India?s population (?Advent of the Nano age?, Jan 11). This, despite the rising input prices and spiraling inflation. If Dhirubhai Ambani could make his Reliance mobile carve out a mass market, the world?s cheapest car is sure to be a top draw to create a history of the same sort. A major shake-up in the auto industry is very much on the cards.
?Srinivasan Umashankar, Nagpur