Madam, - Should we be worried about the dogs that don't bark? Whatever has happened to Joe Higgins, Richard Boyd-Barrett, Finian McGrath, Patricia McKenna and the rest of the anti-war movement? One would have expected to see them encamped outside the Russian Embassy. Surely it can't be only American wars they are against. - Yours, etc,
SEAN WARD,
Sutton Park,
Dublin 13.
Madam, We now see the true cost of the neo-conservative adventures in Afghanistan and Iraq. Security in the entire region has probably never been worse. America's standing in the world and previously high moral authority have been destroyed. The neo-conservative government in Washington has illegally and violently pursued self-interest under the laughably thin guise of a war on terror.
All Western governments have sat by and allowed this to happen or actively taken part for some perceived future benefit.
And the result? One of the newly born democracies may soon be removed from existence and no-one will stand against it. This is only the beginning; other small nations may well be targeted. We are all going to be directly affected.
Perhaps if the Western powers truly were united behind the common goals of freedom and democracy, Mr Putin would not thumb his nose to them and take such aggressive action.
Let's hope that this latest war can be contained to that region generally and does not escalate further. - Yours, etc,
DANNY RAFFERTY,
Raheny,
Dublin 5.