DERMOT MULCAHY,
Madam - Your France correspondent, Lara Marlowe, reports on the fury of France over the treatment of one of its citizens in the United States suspected of international terrorism. She also reports that the French describe American reaction to 9/11 as being "hysterical".
Considering the appalling attack that took place, to call US reaction "hysterical" is deeply offensive to the victims and their families. I would put it to you that the American reaction to 9/11 is everything that France is incapable of doing: i.e., taking a stand against terror, backing up their rhetoric with action making it clear to all the world who their enemies are and following through on promises.
This is the same country which ran away from the Nazis and then collaborated with them, which left a mess in Indo-China which resulted in the deaths of millions, which slaughtered multitudes of Algerians and whose only efficient fighting force is made up if foreigners.
In response to the war on terrorism, France, has tried to stall and hinder US efforts at every angle, held an international trade-fair in Iraq very recently touting for construction contracts to help rebuild Iraq, and refuses to take action against known al-Qaeda operatives in their safe houses in Marseilles for fear of retribution, not to mention being a major arms supplier to Arab terrorists.
France was also the "Friend of the Serbs" and their despot leader Milosevic, just in case people have forgotten this disgusting fact.
I find it incredible also that whilst telling everyone else how to behave, they elect a president who is alleged to be neck-deep in corruption, but I suppose they had no choice seeing that the other candidate was a neo-Nazi! - Yours, etc.,
DERMOT MULCAHY, Parkgate, Frankfield, Cork.