Too many generals with time on their hands

It's a pity the Army can't channel this officer's boundless energy and talent towards more constructive ends, such as weapons training for MPs. As things stand, he enjoys ample time to devote to his new political party, Khattiyatham.

Is this a sign of a healthily functioning democracy, or a case of the devil finding work for idle hands?

CITIZEN JANE

BANGKOK

Obama is not living up to expectations

Re: "Obama's Shanghai 'town hall' meet: A big non-event"; Opinion, November 19.

Suthichi Yoon writes a clear and very readable article, but this deeply disappointing performance, or actually lack of performance, can be extrapolated out into almost every policy area of the nascent Obama presidency. I, like many, was swept up in an intoxicating tide of expectation that the decadent, discredited Bush administration and its endless abuses were being swept into the garbage can of history, and that a new era that would rehabilitate America and return it to its rightful place at the vanguard of all that is good and virtuous was about to dawn.

However, as we reach the end of 2009, all we can see is a path littered with failures and shallow successes. The performance in China was but small fry compared to the rubber-stamping of a farcical presidential election in Afghanistan, and being made to look impotent by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, with the largest number of new dwellings in East Jerusalem to date being approved, and some high profile demolition of Palestinian properties just for good measure, so as to stick up a finger at the president. If he does not have the gumption and backbone to be able to make the Israelis abide by international law, then his pious calls for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi are utterly disingenuous and an affront to us all.

Finally, in an act of cowardly betrayal, we find that he is not to close Guantanamo Bay as so strongly promised in his campaigning. Moreover he lacks the simple decency to be contrite and apologise to the American people in person. The shine, for me, has most certainly gone off the Obama presidency.

DANIEL W DELAWARE

BANGKOK

President did well to foster goodwill in China

Re: "Obama's Shanghai 'town hall' meet: A big non-event"; Opinion, November 19.

I am sorry to hear that Suthichai Yoon was terribly disappointed by President Obama's town hall meeting with Chinese youth in Shanghai. One would think that a foreign leader visiting another country and adhering to the customs and protocols of the host and choosing to keep his criticism subtle rather than provocative would be appreciated rather than scorned.

I wonder, for instance, what Khun Suthichai would expect President Obama to do if he visited Thailand and held a similar forum. Would the organisers allow open discussion of Thailand's lese majeste laws and media censorship, or any of the other issues for which Thailand has drawn considerable controversy? And would the US president be encouraged to give his opinions on such matters? No. To do so would be antagonistic and would immediately draw the ire of the local press, who would decry his meddling in the country's "internal affairs". The president had one job to do in such a forum, and that was to foster goodwill between the people of two nations that have all-too-often maintained an adversarial relationship. And this I think he has done admirably.

CODY GRIGGERS

BANGKOK

Corrupt officials dishonour their country and King

"Duty, honour, country" was the thrust of a speech given by General Douglas MacArthur on May 12, 1962 at the US Military Academy. This speech should also relate to all military, police and government officials no matter which country they are from.

Every year military, police and government officials in Thailand pledge their loyalty to His Majesty and Thailand. It appears that there are some who have not lived up to this pledge. It is their duty to follow the pledge they have made to His Majesty and the country. If they do not, they have no honour, and do not deserve to be part of this country. Except if you say there is honour among thieves, crooks and liars .

You soldiers, police officers and government officials know who you are. You know who is with honour and who is not. Some of you have given your souls over to the dark side, to the side of evil and the life of eternal rebirth, as lower beings. You will not be able to cross the thin thread.

TOM

BANGKOK