MR Pittock (BEN November 13) appears to assert that anyone who is not against the war in Afghanistan is enthusiastically for it.

I do not believe that any right-minded person relishes war, but accepts that to establish and maintain the freedom we enjoy and cherish that it is sometimes regrettable but necessary.

He cites the American response as akin to two historical aggressive actions by the Nazis and Italy, but disappointingly fails to compare the aggressive and motiveless attack on the World Trade Centre with the equally cowardly Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour.

Is it perhaps that they were "only Americans" who suffered these events?

In a previous letter regarding September 11 he stops short of saying that the Americans had it coming, but the disgusting inference was apparent.

If the Americans participate in world affairs they are labelled "arrogant world policemen". If they do not, they are "isolationist and apathetic". Damned either way!

In comparison to the New York attack, Pearl Harbour seems almost honourable, at least the perpetrators did not disappear into caves.

Although Mr Pittock appears to be party to information which the rest of us are not, is he so sure that the Afghans themselves are not willing to accept accidental losses if in the long term they can see the possibility of freedom from the oppressive Taliban regime? Is he also certain that the Taliban (obviously one with Al Queda) have not resorted to the destruction of their own hospitals and citizens to discredit the Western Coalition?

The handicap for the Coalition is in fighting with moral restraint an enemy which does not possess such restraint.

Recent news, (broadcast after Mr Pittock's letter) regarding the liberation of Kabul, illustrates the misery and curtailment of freedom imposed by the Taliban. Freedom from their Thought Police is becoming a reality for the Afghan people.

On the religion comments, is it the same great religion he speaks of which condemns an author to death for writing a book, which, when taken with a good pinch of paranoia, is perceived to be critical of that faith?

May I recommend the study of the Bhagavad-Gita, which presents another of God's views on war (same God!).

However, I rejoice in the fact that both Mr Pittock and I enjoy the freedom to have our ramblings printed. A freedom attributable to war. My fear is that our freedom, which we owe to our predecessors, is being eroded stealthily by the politically correct brigade.

Of course, all of the above is mere opinion, as I am not qualified like Mr Pittock, to speak in absolutes.

Now, having raised the subject of Mr Rushdie, I feel obliged to finish Name and Address Supplied.

After all, I wouldn't want one of those nice-but-sensitive fundamentalist chaps delivering my very own fatwah, would I?

Name and Address

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