Alistair Cook History of America Clip 3

It should be emphasized to everryone, at home and abroad, Cooke's point that America traditionally mistrusted standing armed forces and relied on a small regular army backed by a citizens militia.

One date effectively changed that: December 7, 1941; and it's the fear of a repeat of Pearl Harbor--first by the USSR with nukes, and later by Al-Qaeda which was successfully accomplished on 9-11-01--that has driven policy and mandated an overwhelming force since.

I was in the Fiji Islands with my wife in late 2003 ~ early 2004. The only western news we got was hearing Alistair Cooke's daily report each evening on the BBC. He passed away shortly after that. He is dearly missed by millions, I am sure. -Mark Seibold, Artist-Astronomer, Portland Oregon

I really miss LETTERS FROM AMERICA every Monday night when Mr Cooke would read his weekly letter report on BBC World Service.

Especially that ill fated Sept 11 2001. . .

This scared the crap out of me. Thanks Alastair, thanks a lot.