Sir, - Noel Connolly (September 27th) is convinced that the attacks of September 11th were "an attempt to destroy the Western way of life". This is far from true.
In a 1997 interview Osama bin Laden told the British journalist Robert Fisk: "We are still at the beginning of our military action against the American forces." These crimes were fuelled by a deep hatred for the US - not Western life - engendered by its often biased and unjust policies in the Middle East. To say that "we were all attacked" is a way for America to avoid introspection and a necessary questioning of its actions in the Middle East.
Mr Connolly sets down historical justification for his "war", but his analogy is imperfect. He argues that a lack of military retaliation would embolden terrorists worldwide, as Hitler was emboldened by appeasement. The problem in the 1930s was that of an aggressive, expansionist power which could be defeated only by military engagement. Those responsible could not be pursued methodically and peaceably for their crimes. No one could freeze the Third Reich's assets. - Yours, etc.,
Anthony Thuillier, Drumcondra, Dublin 9.