Sir, - On this occasion the Great Information Machine has not tried to divert attention from the victims. It is not so difficult to notice that thousands have been killed; great suffering has been caused to many who survive; and the shock-waves of horror, disbelief, bewilderment and vengeful fury go through an entire population, with incalculable results.
And Iraq, 10 years ago? Oh, but that was different. That was an advanced computer game and televised circus.
So it doesn't surprise me when Fintan O'Toole (The Irish Times, September 15th) refers to "a new kind of war. . .which the terrorists have invented". Actually, they have invented nothing, they have simply adapted. They have adapted, surprisingly quickly, to the new kind of war which our technocracy launched in Iraq in 1991. And since the Gulf War was meant to be a salutary lesson to everyone, before teaching the next lesson it might be worthwhile to think about how the last lesson has been learnt. - Yours etc.,
John Minahane, Bratislava, Slovakia.