Sir, - The tragic events of September 11th have been often described as a turning point in history. This, by definition, means that the course of action to be taken after the event should be different to actions taken had that event not occurred.
This sadly does not seem to be the case. The call for war is becoming ever louder yet politicians' silence as to what positive steps should be taken after those responsible are bought to justice is even more deafening.
No politicians have addresses the growing number of those joining the anti-war movement.
People do not want to know the details of how exactly those responsible will apprehended, they want to know what actions will be taken to reduce the possibility of this ever happening again.
They do not want to hear about tougher money laundering laws, they want to know that the poverty of the Third World will now be addressed. They do not want to hear about tougher immigration laws, they want to learn how nations of this world will be bought closer together economically and politically.
No immediate and highly visible actions are being taken to show that we have learned from the deaths of so many people. Quite the opposite. We are now facing a situation where diplomacy to bring a little empathy between nations is being called by some as appeasing those countries "that sponsor terrorism".
As we speak, Western leaders are plotting to overthrow the Taliban by aiding the equally hated Northern Alliance. Israel is being asked to refrain from killing Palestinians in the short term in the hope that this will appease some members of the already fragmented coalition. Iraqis are still being asked to die quietly.
What should have been a turning point in history has fallen victim yet again to short-sighted and bungled foreign diplomacy. - Yours, etc.,
Neil Lowrie, Loughborough, Leicestershire.