Madam, - Charles Krauthammer's Pontius Pilate act on behalf of the US administration does not convince (Opinion, February 5th). He also claims the US midwifed "freedom" for the Iraqis.
Firstly, it is overwhelmingly probable that had the US and the UK not invaded Iraq, the Iraqis would not now be suffering from a ghastly civil war. To that extent, both governments have a direct responsibility for the civil war and its death toll.
In terms of midwifing freedom, Mr Krauthammer assumes that Iraqi society was ready for "freedom". This typifies American naivety and ignorance about the country, which is a post-first World War creation of the UK to protect its oil interests.
It remains an overwhelmingly tribal and sectarian society that for the time being, like many other post-colonial states can be stable only under authoritarian rule. Attempts to parachute in Western "freedom" are certain to fail.
Finally, why does The Irish Times persist in publishing Mr Krauthammer's articles which, however clever and well written, are so often wide of the mark? - Yours, etc,
ALAN BARWISE, Ardeevin Terrace, Dalkey, Co Dublin.