Evening Press editor Liz Page speaks of 'openness' and the 'right to know' (October 24), while columnists Julian Cole and Stephen Lewis both plead for the truth to be told (October 18 and 25).

One part of the complex truth about the Afghanistan war is not being told.

It is not cynical, but realistic, to note that the American weapons industry, long recognised as a major force in USA foreign policy, is set to benefit, perfectly legally, from another big war.

So it does not seem odd that the frighteningly-costly terrorising of a poor nation should have been preferred to a sharply-limited operation to bring war criminals to justice - along the lines suggested by the Archbishop of York.

The world desperately needs international police, but even now more could have been done with the aid of discreet surveillance and intelligence - late-Bosnia style - without the massive air attacks and the ensuing loss of life.

The present ham-fisted and barbarous campaign using, in our name, unspeakable weapons such as cluster bombs is getting us nowhere near the wanted criminals, but is raising up a legacy of hate - and more terrorists. Only the pressure of money would have brought about these errors. Have we, and many politicians, just been hoodwinked?

Some of us are grieving for the killed, maimed and homeless in Afghanistan as much as for sorrowing Americans.

What sort of answer to the events of September 11 is it to put innocent people through night after night of terror? I'm ashamed it is done in my name.

Roy Stevens,

Willow Bank,

New Earswick, York.

Updated: 12:21 Wednesday, October 31, 2001