I'M surprised that Kev McStravick (HAS, May 17) sees no connection between the invasion of Iraq and the rise of al Qaida-inspired terrorism worldwide. Osama bin Laden gets support on the basis that there is a US-led global war against Islam, and that it is the duty of every Muslim to wage jihad in defence of Islam.

It's rubbish, of course, but mass slaughter of innocent Muslims by American and British bombs, torture at Bagram, Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo, and the merciless oppression of the Palestinians, are all grist to his mill.

With regard to "alternative strategies", I have always argued for a two-pronged approach. First, tackle the genuine injustices on which terrorism thrives. Second, treat terrorists as criminals - the British police, security services and courts of law have been rather good at this lately, despite the fact that their task has been made infinitely harder by this ridiculous "War on Terror".

George W Bush had it just about right when he said: "Hunt 'em down, smoke 'em out and bring 'em to justice." It's a pity he decided, instead, to launch a futile attack on a country which, at the time, had nothing whatsoever to do with al Qaida.

Pete Winstanley, Durham.