Sir, - I was outraged by Niall O'Dowd's recent intemperate remarks in your paper about Irish people pining for the Taliban and Russian regimes. As one of the countless thousands who queued for hours outside the American Embassy and left flowers as an expression of our sympathy, I take great exception to his words.
Why can't some people - and I include Bertie Ahern here - take genuine and concerned dissent for what it is? Why have they to resort to abuse in reply?
Why is it so right to be concerned about the innocent Americans killed yet wrong - worse, meriting abuse - to be concerned about innocent people in a potential conflict that could leave countless thousands dead, injured and homeless in Iraq. Isn't it time for the inhabitants of this earth to grow up and solve these problems without this bellicose posturing?
Billions are wasted in armaments while half the world starves and millions are dying of AIDS. That is where our efforts should be directed. For God's sake, wake up. - Yours, etc.,
M. MOORE, Stillorgan Road, Stillorgan, Co Dublin