Roots of terror

I'm old enough to remember the Second World War when countless thousands of young men and women committed the most unspeakable atrocities in the name of their respective governments.

Were the airmen of all nationalities faceless cowards when they rained indiscriminate death on enemy populations or were they heroes fighting for something in which they passionately believed?

When atomic bombs totally destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki were these acts of selfless heroism?

It seems to depend on where you are standing which may explain why people in Middle Eastern countries are reported to have danced in the street after the attacks on America.

The people who carried out these acts must have trained for months in preparation and during that time they knew that if they were successful they would inevitably die.

However else these people may be described, faceless cowards does not seem appropriate.

Hunting down the planners of these attacks and wreaking vengeance may be a knee-jerk reaction, but in the long term such acts can only be prevented by addressing the root causes.

When people feel this kind of action is the only one left to them we should ask ourselves how we have behaved towards them to make them feel this way.

We should also remember that many 'terrorists' become responsible leaders of their communities when their goals are established.

The Stern gang killed many English soldiers on their way to establishing the state of Israel and the present government of Northern Ireland was not achieved peacefully.

When western leaders established the Jewish state of Israel I heartily approved after learning of the atrocities committed against them. But like many others, I lost sight of the fact that the residents of that land were dispossessed to make it possible.

The Jews appear to have learned a great deal about terrorism and oppression at the hands of the Nazis and it depresses me to see them use that knowledge against the Palestinians with the tacit acceptance of the Western world.

I do not condone the terrorist attacks on America but are we doing enough to make them unnecessary?

J Smith,

New Lane,

Huntington, York.

...In the aftermath of the horrendous attacks on New York and Washington I am reminded of the incident during the Second World Ward when York was bombed and the city's historic Guildhall was almost destroyed by a direct hit.

As a mark of transatlantic solidarity and sympathy, the city of New York donated a considerable amount of money to its namesake city for the restoration of the Guildhall which was successfully saved and preserved.

The restoration of the World Trade Centre is clearly now beyond anybody's power, but it would be appropriate for York and its citizens to mark the shock and sympathy felt by all of us here in North Yorkshire by organising some form of appeal or donation to fund a small part of the restoration of shattered buildings and shattered lives.

To do so would be to repay a kindness from 60 years ago when New York came to the aid of the people of York after we had faced death, destruction and ter-ror from the skies.

In helping to renew international friendships, it would also, in some small symbolic way, help defeat the evils of war and terrorism.

Greg Stone,

Vale of York Liberal Democrats,

Herriott Way, Thirsk.

...What value now Son Of Star Wars, the missile defence project?

America should see from this shocking outrage on New York and Washington that the threat is from terrorism and not from a kamikaze 'rogue state'.

There have been numerous calls for retaliation. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth has always been the Israeli policy yet it has produced only further acts of violence.

This outrage is the outcome of America's biased Middle East policy

and, without a resolution of the Palestinian issue, more terrorist

outrages will surely occur.

The perpetrators and those backing this attack must be brought to justice. But there should be no lashing out at somebody, anybody just because of the enormous anger being felt.

We either resolve the problem or just add to the cycle of violence.

Richard Lamb,

Greystoke Road,

Rawcliffe, York.

...Christian Vassie (Letters, September 13) is wrong to use the terrorist outrage in America as a platform for his anti-Israel rhetoric.

This was not about Israelis and Arabs although many parties are using it as a tool to have us believe this.

This was an attack by fanatics whose beliefs are totally alien to us in the democracies of the free world and our cherished values which they do not share.

Decent people everywhere will share America's pain and that of those who lost loved ones.

This is not the time for point-scoring.

David Lyon,

Kingfisher Close,

Huntington, York.

...WHILE most of what Christian Vassie writes is true, he is being somewhat ideological.

After all the Arab world, some of whom are almost certainly behind these unimaginable atrocities, are not the have-nots.

Osama Bin Laden is a millionaire of oil-rich Saudi origin. These people are fanatics who have no respect for human life - their own or others. It is not down to desperation and no amount of wealth redistribution will change that.

We have enjoyed peace for more than 50 years due, in part, to the threats posed by nuclear missiles and therefore reasonable people's determination not to use them.

They act purely as a deterrent. As technology develops in so-called rogue states we have to protect ourselves against potential destruction.

We must also strive to stop these fanatics. Thankfully, the response of world leaders supports this.

We are free people and that can and must never change. Part of this freedom allows people like Mr Vassie and myself to express our opinions.

Alex Groves,

Murton Way,

Osbaldwick, York.

...GIVE me some reasons for the horror in America. I have cried at some of the scenes depicted in the media and I am shocked, sad and angry.

I am unable to understand why these atrocities have occurred.

Why do the perpetrators of the horrors in the USA hate Americans so much that they have killed so many innocents?

Why do the Islamic fundamentalists hate America so much?

What policies of the USA are so bad that these mad persons use them to justify their actions?

I am confused that there are organisations that can hate so much as to commit these atrocities. I have heard Middle Eastern spokespeople say that one of the reasons for this hatred is America's support for Israel in its conflicts with the Palestinians.

I find this difficult to accept.

There is no justification for any organisation to do what has occurred in America this week.

What has generated such hatred and fanaticism?

Geoff Alderson,

Maple Grove, York.

Updated: 11:13 Friday, September 14, 2001