Sir, - A cynic might claim that current events in East Timor demonstrate the great care that a dictatorship must take when choosing which countries supply arms to its military. Yugoslavia manufactured its own armaments or purchased them from Russia. Indonesia's dictatorship had the good sense to buy its weapons from Western suppliers. We all know what happened to Yugoslavia when its army went on the rampage in Kosovo. Unfortunately, we also know what's not going to happen in East Timor. - Yours, etc.,
C. McKenna, Greenville Place, Dublin 8.