HERE we go again! Western politicians under the auspices of Nato are dabbling in another sovereign state's affairs and involving the lives of innocent people as well as servicemen.

The decision of Nato to bomb the Serbs (and everyone else who gets in the way) is a potential disaster and mirrors the similar questionable actions such as Vietnam, Iraq and parts of Africa.

We have no right to inflict our will on Yugoslavia, even though it may be argued that they are repressing the Kosovian minority - but where does this busy-bodying end?

I am cynical and suspicious of all politicians who seem to be more interested in affairs in other countries than their own. Perhaps their actions are influenced by a desire to divert attention from their own shortcomings, such as Clinton and his sexual escapades,

Blair and his MPs' sleaze and Hague and the Conservative Party's insignificance.

The international community through the United Nations has a responsibility to influence and guide recalcitrant regimes by diplomatic and trade/economic means to conform to acceptable standards of behaviour.

But we have no right to use force.

The logical sequence of this latest Nato intervention is for the international community to force their views on the Australians because of their treatment of the Aborigines, on Spain because of their refusal to allow the Basques independence and, who knows, Britain because Wales and Scotland also want independence.

David W Wright,

Little Lane,

Easingwold.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.