WAR ON AMERICA

I AM waiting, with some trepidation, to see the nature of the response by the US government to the shocking events of last week.

War has been declared on 'terrorism'. What does that mean, and has that not always been the case? In this country where Irish terrorism has brought 30 years of tragedy, in Spain where ETA bombs, in Sri Lanka where the Tamil Tigers terrorise, and in countless other countries, governments have been fighting to maintain stability and security.

These conflicts cannot be decided by normal military means because there is no opposition army to fight. The extremists strike in small groups and then melt back into the general population.

What is a terrorist? Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect, was a US-backed 'freedom fighter' against the Russians in Afghanistan. The US has provided substantial funds for the 'freedom fighters' in Ireland. Nelson Mandela was a terrorist fighting a government which had the backing of the Europeans and Americans. Western governments have often financed 'freedom fighters' in, for example, Communist countries. Remember the US involvement in Chile that led to Pinochet's installation as president?

One country's terrorists are another's freedom fighters.

Thousands of innocent people died this week. My great worry is that if, for revenge or political gain, President Bush unleashes a military backlash, how many equally innocent Afghans, Palestinians or Iraqis may also lose their lives. Would that not be an atrocity in itself?

President Bush has the opportunity to prove himself statesman or cowboy. There will never be a better time for global co-operation and diplomatic leverage to find the killers. Hollywood-style gung-ho may satisfy gun-toting rednecks but it will surely create more martyrs and resentment. - Malcolm Potter, address supplied.

IT IS sickening that terrorists caused the deaths of innocent men, women and children without any thought for human life or, for that matter, their own lives.

These terrorists, and others like them, should be treated with the contempt they deserve. No stone should be left unturned until these evil people are hunted and rooted out of their hideaways, whichever country they may be in.

Some say that if the US retaliates as if this were a war, it will cause more problems. But if the US doesn't, the terrorists will continue with their evil acts of death and destruction against the civilised world.

Terrorists should be stopped in their tracks immediately. The highest form of retaliation should rid the world of them.

It is time the freedom-loving people of the world joined together to help and assure the Americans that they are not alone in their attempts to rid the terrorists from our everyday lives.

If the Americans fail, the deaths of innocent people will continue. - Jack Amos, Willington.

THE near-unanimous condemnation of the atrocity throughout the Arab/Muslim world presents a unique opportunity which would be destroyed by ill-considered military action at this stage. The support of the more moderate Muslim leaders would be lost, and a limitless supply of recruits for the murderous fanatics would be ensured.

The alternative is to build upon this consensus of condemnation so as to isolate the men of violence and apprehend the perpetrators of this outrage. This can only be done if the US is prepared to address legitimate concerns regarding its role in the Middle East and to abandon its self-righteous claim to be the sole guardian of civilisation, democracy and freedom.

The Western world is far from civilised and, in the past, the US has used any dirty trick imaginable to bring down democratically-elected governments when it disliked the choice the people had made, and it has been willing to support despotic rulers like the Shah of Iran whenever it suited it. - Pete Winstanley, Chester-le-Street.

YOUR leader's comments ("Justice not retribution", Echo, Sept 13) miss the point that this was not a terrorist act but an act of war, not just on America but on Western civilisation.

This is not the act of a few individuals but of Muslim states, and they should be made to pay the consequences. To kid ourselves that we are not involved is irresponsible and can only be described as a total disregard for the well-being of the British people.

Western politicians have long ignored this problem, and the Americans have left themselves open because of their belief in their own invincibility. That invincibility will not be restored by putting a few individuals in the dock because those who died committing this evil will already have been replaced.

London is a cesspit of terrorist organisations that can strike at will, many of them linked to Muslim fundamentalists - why have there been no arrests?

Unless action is taken now, the British will regret their foolishness. - John Young, Crook.

IT is so sad that Muslim extremists should want to hurt Western civilisation.

But President Bush has not let us down. Throughout his short term of office he has displayed an ability to plan ahead which has not often been matched by his predecessors. A lot of people are betting on his career holding good at the White House - despite the seriousness of current events.

Any attempt by him to avoid military action would be unwise because of the risk that it might create the impression that the West is morally a spent force. It would be sad indeed if the crimes and atrocities of the terrorists on September 11 were in any way treated with liberal impunity. - Aled Jones, Bridlington.

ON Friday, while visiting a residential area in Thirsk, I was standing with my head bowed in prayer for the souls of the disaster victims. I was deeply shocked to note that in spite of the huge publicity given to the three minute silence, many people continued with their loud conversations and to continue to drive around in their cars.

I also noticed that traffic along the nearby by-pass continued at its usual high speed as if nothing had happened.

I would like to draw attention to the seriousness of this appalling catastrophe and also to note that a majority of people ignore the two minute silence on Armistice Day which commemorates all who lost their lives during world wars and other conflicts so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today.

God bless Britain and America. - JP Lassey, Thirsk.

WE always enjoy The Northern Echo's cartoons Horace and Doris, and Cluff. However, we thought that Cluff's attempt at humour with his fireman in an "I love NY" hat was insensitive (Echo, Sept 13). I hope he will be castigated and will return to his wonderful humour. - Audrey Little, Willington.

THE PRIME MINISTER

FOOT-and-mouth is still rampant across certain parts of the country. The asylum problem is not being dealt with. Factory closures and massive job losses are reported almost daily and young girls in Belfast run a gauntlet of hatred just to get to school.

I am reminded of past history, when we are told that while Rome burned, Nero fiddled.

Now we have a modern day Nero in our midst, because as Great Britain goes down the pan, Emperor Blair plays the guitar in Hartlepool (Echo, Sept 8). - BE Cox, School Aycliffe.

AN Asylum system in complete chaos, school teachers to be shipped in from abroad, hospital patients to be shipped out, manufacturing in recession and a countryside ravaged by foot-and-mouth.

Still, it's reassuring to know we have a Prime Minister straining every sinew to deal with the mess his government has created.

Since the General Election, Tony Blair has had a long foreign holiday and has been photographed strumming his guitar. What a guy, what a leader!

And what a relief we all voted Labour to give these people a second chance. - MJ Fishwick, Durham City Conservative Future.

TONY Blair returns from an overlong holiday because of the escalation of the foot-and-mouth crisis, the Irish crisis involving school children and the escalation of asylum seekers etc.

So what does Mr Blair do to ease the situation?

He made a bee-line for his old chum Peter Mandelson, probably to ask his advice and then like the troubadour Tony is when a photo opportunity presents itself, he entertains anyone within earshot on a guitar.

But I think Tony it was an own goal, you looked like Nero fiddling while Rome burned. Nice one Tony, we all feel better now. - A Jeffcutt, Darlington.

FOOT-AND-MOUTH

I HAVE been staying in Teesdale for a week. Because of the foot-and-mouth outbreak I have not covered the distances I would normally while in this area.

I have to say that during my travels the only disinfecting I came across was on the A685 west of Tebay on my way to Kendal.

During my few days in this area I have driven over many mats on the roads. Without fail every one has been bone dry. I do not know who is responsible, but surely they should be soaked with disinfectant every two to three hours.

As for the A66 - the corridor which your paper says (Echo, Sept 8) the disease is tracking - there was one mat near Brough, again bone dry, between Keswick and Barnard Castle.

Is it any wonder that the disease is spreading? - E Taylor, Harpenden.

-The maximum length for letters is 200 words. All letters (including e-mails) must include the writer's name, postal address and phone number and may be edited. We cannot acknowledge letters or guarantee that all will be published. We retain the right to use letters in any published format, including the Internet. Write to: Hear All Sides, The Northern Echo, PO Box 14, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF. Fax: (01325) 380539