"Re your support for the idea of closing all overseas US bases to save costs, have you thought of the geopolitical consequences?

"It would pull the rug from under Japan and its jittery southeast Asian neighbours at a time when stability is essential. Japan and South Korea could well go nuclear and China might be emboldened to make a move on Taiwan. Not everything should be viewed through an economic prism."

David Fuller's view Yes, I have thought about the consequences. It was not an off-the-cuff remark (see Thursday's lead item) and I have felt this way for a number of years.

I agree that not everything should be viewed through an economic prism but the USA can no longer afford to play global cop. Aside from creating more enemies than friends, this is not the responsibility of US taxpayers. WW2 was a long time ago and so was the Cold War. Other developed and rapidly developing countries and regions are more than capable of looking after their own security interests, particularly as we live in an increasingly multipolar world in which alliances are based on trade rather than military strength.

The world certainly does not need more nuclear powers but this is not something that the US can prevent. It makes no economic or political sense for China to "make a move on Taiwan" given the developing trade between their respective economies. But even if China felt otherwise, it is a delusion to think that the US could either prevent it, or be willing to risk all in the attempt.