As an Englishman, proud to identify with the United States and its gallant military that has done so much to advance the cause of liberty during this and the preceding century, I take issue with the suggestion that those opposed to the prospect of Edward Snowden's receiving this year's Nobel Peace Prize (Letter of the Day, Jan. 3) are blinded to "the better interests of peace on this planet." For the life of me, I cannot think of an institution that has done more to preserve and promote the peace of our world than America's brave and underappreciated armed forces. Without them, the 20th century would have been far bleaker than it actually was. If this nation is to remain "the beacon of democracy and liberty for the rest of world" — and I, for one, sincerely hope that it does — then it has no choice but to remain "the most militarized nation on Earth," as the letter writer puts it. That America can do this whilst remaining one of the least militaristic and most democratic great powers in history continues to elicit the admiration and gratitude of many more people around the world than is commonly supposed.

BERNARD CARPENTER, Chanhassen