MR Pittock's continued championing of terrorists and Osama bin Laden is becoming a bit of an obsession isn't it?

To question the behaviour of the Western democracies in their treatment of the Middle Eastern countries is one thing, not necessarily a bad thing either. To be an apologist for terrorism is something quite different.

I have never agreed with the "Our side right or wrong" mentality, but we, as a nation, should be prepared to accept when we are wrong and make reparation as and when appropriate. This in no way means that we must have a constant feeling of guilt for the so-called "excesses" of the former British Empire, or that the entire former colonies and dependencies have a claim against us, nor even the right to live here. Nor does it mean that all the "Emerging Nations" of the third world are entitled to Largesse at our expense.

The ones prepared to exact revenge for wrongs of the past have, by the terrorist atrocities, killing and maiming the innocent, put themselves outside the rules of civilised behaviour and are thereby fit only to be destroyed like the mad dogs that they are.

The followers of Osama bin Laden are doubtless at this moment seeking access to even more terrible weapons with which to "put their point of view" to people whom they think are not listening with sufficient "respect".

The destruction of terrorists is not, of course, sufficient in itself to discourage terrorism. The one thing that I have noticed about people such as Mr Pittock is a strange absence of constructive suggestions that we in the West must undertake to the elimination of "injustices" of the past.

This cannot mean that we can simply allow the members of terrorist organisations to walk free. They would simply take this as a sign of weakness and a licence to continue.

Mr Pittock cites article three and it must be realised that ObL and his terrorists worldwide have given article three the "thumbs up" haven't they? If that isn't sufficient to condemn article three, then I don't know what is. The present stalemate masquerading as a "peaceful solution" in Northern Ireland should show us just how, once a terrorist "tastes blood", there is no other way for them.

F Isherwood

Latham Road

Blackrod, Bolton