Sir, - Two generations ago the free world was faced with a man bent on plunging the world into darkness. It blinked. The consequence of liberal appeasement was the second World War.
Today we are faced with a treat as sinister as that our grandparents' generation faced in the 1930s. Democracy, the rule of law and freedom were eventually saved but at a horrendous price. Let us not repeat their mistakes. Direct, sustained military action is now required to remove for ever the ability of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network to commit more atrocities. The mistakes made in dealing with Hitler and his Nazis in 1938 must not be repeated. - Yours, etc.,
Finbarr O'donovan, Knockanrawley, Tipperary Town.