Jean-Claude Trichet sooths his own nerves.

Sir I feel a bit bad about Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the European Central Bank, having to go out and affirm that he is a good and responsible parent, “Europe has mapped its monetary exit” September 4. Somehow one gets a feeling he is whistling in the dark so as to sooth his own nerves. Of course he should have an exit strategy for the current financial measures that looks to deliver price stability, and of course he should be willing to apply it, at least a priori, but both we and he know that this is just the beginning, since in any disciplinary approach a lot will depend on the children’s response.