CONGRATULATIONS to Neville Alcock regarding "America's bin Laden battle".

I wrote a letter on the same lines some weeks ago, quoting that America left us to fight alone for over two years and only came in when Japan brought the war to their own doorstep.

Mr Alcock is also correct to mention the "friendly fire" accidents which happened during the Gulf War. Again we were roped in to that affair when, ironically, Germany and Japan remained neutral.

We seem to be good at fighting other people's corners -- "The good ole' Brits can be relied upon!" Quite frankly, I cannot see how we got caught up in the First World War, when more countries in Europe, such as Holland, stayed neutral. How should an assassination on an Archduke in Sarajevo have affected us? Why is everything down to us?

History proves that there are more countries that we have been at war with than otherwise -- even America! Involvement in Afghanistan has left our backs wide open. I think we should sleep on this. Also, we should remember -- "Birds of a feather, flock together", as other countries can come in on the enemy's side, as has happened too often in the past.

B Howarth

Alexandria Drive

Westhoughton, Bolton