The rise of Japan and Germany
Dear Sir,
The article, “How did Japan and Germany rise from the ashes of WW11” (Gulf Times,  August 14) was insightful. These two countries were annihilated in the Second World War. Germany was accused of being the aggressor as its attack on Poland was the immediate cause of the war.
With the suicide of Hitler, Germany surrendered whereas Japan continued to fight on. After atom bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9 respectively in 1945, Japan too surrendered. With this, the world’s worst war till then came to an end.
After the end of the war, both countries’ economy became awfully week. US general Douglas MacArthur was appointed the supreme commander for the Allied Powers to oversee the occupation of Japan. In Europe, the defeated Germany was divided into two states.
But soon after, Japan’s economy started growing fast. West Germany too became prosperous but East Germany, part of the communist bloc, lagged behind.
The economic success of both West Germany and Japan owe to their people’s sheer will. They toiled in order to make their nations rise from the ashes. With the unification of western and eastern sections, Germany became most powerful nation in Europe economically. German products are much-sought-after all over the world and so were  Japanese. These two nations are now fine examples of how to compete with skill and tenacity in spite of all odds.

C Robinson
robin_son_ch@yahoo.co.in

A struggle for motorists
Dear Sir,

The letter “Needed: More petrol stations” (Gulf Times, August 17) highlighted a serious problem facing vehicle owners in Qatar: the  shortage of petrol stations. As the letter writer says, filling up cars has become a struggle in Doha because of the  heavy rush at petrol stations.
I usually fill my car up during weekend holidays when the petrol stations are not that crowded. Or I go to them late night. But filling up cars shouldn’t be such a difficult “mission” if we have enough petrol stations.
I hope Woqod will take measures soon to open more petrol stations so that motorists don’t have to waste their time in queuing up to fill up cars.

MN
(Full name and address supplied)