Madam, - I was exasperated at the sanctimonious tone of Gearóid Kilgallen (March 18th).
Throughout this affair, I have rarely seen anyone who has blamed terrorism first for the crisis we find ourselves in and Mr Kilgallen's remarks are no exception. Treating Britain and America as imperialist aggressors is too simple and won't help the situation at all.
A stable Iraq, though a long way off at this point, is not something cynically to be scoffed at. Removing Saddam Hussein has sent a message to other despots such as Gadafy that the instability and terrorism they fostered, directly or indirectly, can no longer be tolerated.
Last year, the people of Iraq had the tyranny of an evil despot lifted from their shoulders. They would be in an even better position now if al-Qaeda terrorists were not trying to destroy them and the efforts to recreate their country.
In looking at America's complex relationship with this plagued nation, it should be said that this time they did the right thing in removing Saddam. Furthermore, Mr Kilgallen claims that Britain and America have become "recruitment sergeants" for al-Qaeda. That is a lazy-minded falsehood that is continually being propagated.
This is not to say that any civilised person should be in favour of death and destruction. But nobody in the West started this conflict and the terrorists who now threaten us us all and have struck at the heart of Europe need no encouragement. They are in pursuit of a "truth" - the destruction of a "decadent" West - and will stand for no deviation from that objective.
We may try to understand the Wahabi fundamentalism that informs this nightmare, but it is another thing to lead the fight in defeating it. And the restructuring of the Middle East may be the only way to begin that process.
This is about the survival of the West. Mr Kilgallen should stop blaming everyone except the terrorists and despots for this terrifying scenario. - Yours, etc.,
CIARÁN BOURKE, Clonkeen Road, Deansgrange, Co Dublin.
Madam, - It would seem that if you vote like the people of Spain you are appeasing terrorists. Voting out governments that pretend the Iraq adventure helps the fight against terrorism is also appeasement. Perhaps even voting itself is appeasement.
Presumably the opposite of appeasement is supporting: (a) the right of governments to play politics with the truth about terrorism; and (b) the right of governments to attack any country that may perchance have nefarious thoughts.
What a strange thing the opposite of appeasement is. - Yours, etc.,
FRANK FITZPATRICK, St Kevin's Parade, Dublin 8.
Madam, - Tony Allwright (March 17th) says it is understandable that the Spanish swung against the Partido Popular because of its stance on the invasion of Iraq but that it is "diabolical" for the new Prime Minister to announce that he will withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq - even though he promised this in his election manifesto.
Strange; in Ireland we complain when Governments do not honour their promises.
I hope Mr Allwright will read Paddy Woodworth's balanced article in your edition of March 17th. "Spaniards show how democracy is best weapon against terrorism". - Yours, etc.,
Mrs MARY STEWART, Ardeskin, Donegal Town.