A few years ago I heard an American senator suggest that, to be safe from a hostile Russia, America should help Russia become a safe and prosperous place. Rare wise words.

Is it too much to hope that the West might realise that its future safety depends not on anti-missile missiles and strategic bombing but on working towards an equitable sharing of the world's riches with all the people of Earth?

The West's reluctance to act on a whole series of UN resolutions over Israel's treatment of the Palestinians is indefensible.

For 50 years that treatment has been as grotesque as recent events in New York and Washington.

I condemn the attacks on America but I challenge those expressing outrage to try to understand what it might be like to see your whole life pass by, your children grow up, your parents die, without hope of ever having a home, a passport or freedom of movement.

It would be simplistic to suggest that by removing the grotesque inequalities in the world one could persuade the lunatic fringe to stop strapping bombs to themselves or hijacking aircraft and flying them into buildings. But it cannot be refuted that desperation and hopelessness do contribute to producing young men ready to kill themselves.

Since Bush's 'election' last winter he has walked America away from the world community, preferring to think only of perceived US interests.

In doing so he has lost much good will from the world community.

It is inevitable that political leaders will spend the next few days thumping their chests, but I pray that in the weeks to come the UN will become involved and that a measured and constructive approach will be adopted to move the world towards greater equality.

In the long run it is this that will deter desperate people from taking desperate and appalling actions.

Christian Vassie

Wheldrake, York.

...A month ago our son was standing on the top of one of the World Trade Centre towers in New York which were destroyed by terrorists.

Emergencies don't just happen in New York. An emergency can happen any time, anywhere. It was only 40 or so weeks ago that vast areas of our country were threatened by floods.

The threat has not gone away - be it from water; the recently-found lead pollution carried by the water; or man- made or natural disasters.

Where are the local emergency planning committees with the local knowledge which can be used to support overstretched emergency services?

Bob Lewis,

Boothgate Close, Howden.

...THE tragedy at The Pentagon and World Trade Centre has made a deep impact on a people whose reserves of shock had appeared drained by Oklahoma City, Waco and other calamities of recent years.

My sympathy goes to the families of those who died in such frightful circumstances.

There is a fierce sense of irony that this incident should come at a time when American civilisation seems in control, and the American Dream is once more on the brink of being brought to fruition.

But it will take a lot more than cowardly terrorist acts to break the life force and determination of the greatest Christian race in history.

Aled Jones,

Mount Crescent, Bridlington.

...I WORK for the Swedish Trade Coun-cil/Embassy of Sweden in downtown Washington, DC and I can still hardly believe the horrific events of Tuesday.

Watching first the World Trade Center go down and then the crash in the Pentagon - it was unreal, like watching a movie. How could this happen?

Things started to feel really uncomfortable after they began to evacuate all the federal buildings in Washington, - the White House, Capitol, State Department, World Bank and so on.

After a meeting with the ambassador and all the staff in the embassy, most of us went home. It was total chaos in the streets with traffic at a standstill and the sidewalks crowded with people. We were like refugees.

Washington was in a state of shock with an eerie feeling because no planes were in the air, only helicopters and fighter jets.

Today, back in the office and trying to get back to business, we are all still shocked. It is too much to take in and all this will certainly change not just America, but the rest of the world too.

Liza Rameryd,

Washington, DC.

Updated: 10:09 Thursday, September 13, 2001