Sir, - As an American living in Ireland, may I please be allowed to state for the record that Mary Van Lieshout and the group Americans in Ireland for Alternatives to War do not represent me - nor in fact, the majority of Americans privileged to live in Ireland. They certainly do not reflect the majority opinion of Americans in the United States. I am quite ashamed that this organisation exists at all.
No American in the US, or anywhere in the world, is happy with the reports of civilian deaths in Afghanistan. Most of us would abhor terms like "collateral damage" and "acceptable losses". But the truth is very simple: the Taliban chose the path we have taken to bring to justice those responsible for the September 11th massacres in New York and Washington DC. Sadly, innocent people always suffer in wars.
God bless America, and thank God for the Republic of Ireland, and her wonderful people. - Yours, etc.,
Michael Higgins, Adare, Co Limerick.