SEAMUS BAYNES,
Sir, - I was in the US on September 11th, and felt as shocked and traumatised as any American that day. I was proud that my country lined up with other civilised nations to condemn the outrage, refusing to hide behind pseudo-neutral weasel-words.
I believe that the threat to civilised and democratic societies from barbaric and perverted terrorist organisations is very real. Only concerted action by the civilised nations can deal with this threat and I believe that it would be selfish and immoral for Ireland to refuse to play a constructive role.
As a sovereign nation we can, and should, define how we propose to play our part in countering the terrorist threat. There is of course, no imperative to go along with some of the more simplistic and ill-advised schemes favoured by President Bush. We are more than capable of agreeing intelligent strategies with our European neighbours.
One thing is quite clear: burying our heads in the sand and making self-righteous noises about "neutrality" will no more protect us than it protected the world from Hitler in the 1930s. - Yours, etc.,
SEAMUS BAYNES,
Novara Park,
Bray,
Co Wicklow.