Madam, - The disgusting and unspeakable barbarity of the supposed al-Qaeda group beheading a young American should be utterly condemned by those of us who opposed Bush and Blair's invasion of Iraq.
The perpetrators of this inhuman act do not represent any just cause, nor any aim worthy of support. The lie that sadistically taking an innocent American life was to avenge the abuse of Iraqi prisoners is as false as the pretext for invasion offered by the present American and British administrations.
Barbarity is often founded on lies. This poor young man was a victim of atrocious blood-lust and cruelty. There is no excuse. - Yours, etc.,
GERRY MOLLOY, Collins Avenue, Dublin 9.
Madam, - The abuse of Iraqi prisoners is a truly shameful mark on America's military history. There are no excuses and the bottom line is that Donald Rumsfeld should resign. But let's get a few things straight. Firstly, bad things happen in war, and even worse things happen in occupied territories - and you don't need to look all the way to Iraq for examples.
Secondly, let's not forget who the good guys are here. If you need further clarification, the bad guys are the ones cutting off the head of a civilian in cold blood and putting a video of it on the web. The good guys are the ones trying to bring some semblance of a peaceful democracy to Iraq, having been sent there under initial false premises. - Yours, etc.,
JOE SMITH, Astoria, New York, USA.
Madam, - In the past two weeks we have been shown images of US soldiers humiliating and abusing Iraqi prisoners. The net result of these actions was the gruesome and unimaginably painful decapitation of Nick Berg. All these victims were male. The smiling torturers at Abu Ghraib prison and the prison commander, who by their gung-ho activities set in train this particular horror show, were female.
With regard to the argument about whether men or women suffer more abuse in this world, feminists should take note, and adjust their arguments to correspond with reality. - Yours, etc.,
NICOLAS CLIFTON, Ballsbridge Wood, Dublin 4.
Madam, - John Sheedy and Des Curley (May 11th) raise very valid questions about the treatment of detainees at Guantánamo Bay. But, in view of the appalling atrocities committed in Abu Ghraib prison, they do not go nearly far enough.
Someone needs to take a strong line with the Americans, and who better than Ireland (not a natural enemy of the US) while Ireland holds the EU presidency?
I suggest that three "sharp shocks" should be administered by Ireland to the US in the name of human decency and proper values. The US Government should be told that Mr Bush's proposed visit to Ireland is "off" unless three things happen first and fast:
(a) Mr Rumsfeld is sacked.
(b)The prisoners of Guantánamo Bay are relocated to somewhere else, under the control of the UN, which complies with the Geneva Conventions.
(c) That the same as at (b) happens in respect of the "pack of cards" prisoners (Saddam Hussein and others).
Is it more important for Ireland to humour an indefensible US position, or to make a stand against the US (for once) which would win widespread admiration throughout most of the rest of the world? - Yours, etc.,
Dr MARTIN PULBROOK, Enniscoffey, Mullingar, Co Westmeath.