Madam, - The international community felt it had a right to intervene in the affairs of sovereign countries such as former Yugoslavia and Iraq, using as an excuse the need to protect the citizens of these countries from further atrocities. The people would be liberated and would enjoy Western-style "freedom".
The people of Burma are currently in dire straits, as are the people of Sudan. I don't see the international community up in arms to prevent torture and genocide - maybe because there is nothing in it for the big powers of today. Or because the perpetrators of the crimes in these countries have more allies in the international community than the victims.
Duplicity is part of human nature. When it is exhibited on a large scale it reminds us how frightening our world can really be and how dangerous we humans are for one another. - Yours, etc,
ANNA CHRYSOVERGI, Esker Lawns, Lucan, Co Dublin.