Sir, - I wonder if Mr Portillo would like to reconsider his recent remarks expressing his support for the Israeli military onslaught on the civilians of southern Lebanon? Two reasons come to mind. Firstly, is he not a member of the same British government which repeatedly condemned without reservation the use of massed artillery on civilian areas by Bosnian Serb forces (in the not too distant past)?
Secondly, his comments are deeply disturbing as they suggest that the British government now accept this policy as a legitimate one for countering terrorist incidents.
Given that British army artillery based in Newry could probably reach Drogheda, would Mr Portillo be happy to play the part of a modern day Cromwell? He certainly has the necessary xenophobia. - Yours, etc.,
Oakfield Estate,
Oranmore, Galway.