Sir, - For many Arabs and others in the Middle East, President Bush's response to the horrendous events of September 11th must have a hollow and hypocritical ring. In the 1950s an American- and British-sponsored coup in Iran overthrew its democratically elected leader, Mohammed Mosuddiq, and installed the Shah, a brutal dictator who faithfully enforced American interests in the region.
Shi'ite fundamentalism and the accession of the Ayatollah Khomeni to power in that country were directly related to this event. That the early suicide bombers, the Hezbollah, had strong religious and financial connections with Iran is hardly surprising.
Also, the US's less than even-handed response to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict has undermined moderate Arab opinion and contributed to the proliferation of extreme elements in the Islamic world. The sickening sight of Palestinian children being shot down by Israeli troops using live ammunition is beamed almost weekly across the world.
America's muted response to this slaughter, and Israel's continuous expansion into Palestinian territory with little apparent concern from America fertilise the politics of extremism and nihilism.
America and its allies would be better served if they concentrated on the "whys", rather than waving the big stick of war and ultimately perpetuating the conflict. - Is mise,
Sean Whelan, Ormond Keep, Nenagh, Co Tipperary.