CHRIS NICHOLSON and Rob Meggs make some telling points regarding the death of Osama bin Laden (HAS, May 7).

Sovereign states do indeed enjoy their legitimacy through the rule of law and it is a novel sense of justice for a state to order the execution of a man without trial.

However, novel situations sometimes require novel responses. Nobody doubts bin Laden's guilt. No trial was necessary to prove that.

Barack Obama should be congratulated on his brave decision to send men in helicopters rather than bombs.

Apart from a few raucous gatherings there has been little jingoism, just a natural pride in the performance of the armed forces.

The mood in America is one of quiet satisfaction rather than boastfulness.

Justice was indeed served.

Susan Willis,