I WISH to reply to the Evening Press editorial which argues that war in Afghanistan is justified because of the Trade Centre atrocities (October 8).

They were terrible atrocities. I was stunned as I saw them happen on TV news.

As a believer in God, I say that if the people who did that think they are going to paradise they have got it badly wrong. But war is a terrible and very blunt instrument. At the moment Northern Alliance forces are facing the ranks of the Taliban (including press-ganged conscripts) with about five miles between them.

This makes me think of the war photo shot on the road to Basra in the Gulf War showing the blackened head of an Iraqi soldier looking agonisingly in death at the sky from his tank.

So will the coalition use other anti-personnel weapons on the massed Taliban ranks?

Past experience suggests they will.

To get to Osama bin Laden could cost lives on a huge scale. I remember the Taliban offered negotiations on a trial for bin Laden, this was rejected.

I am glad to see the Green Party opposes the war.

With a shrinking ozone layer, and global warming accelerating, the planet itself has made its own declaration of war against humanity. Can we really afford wars any more, or do the past and events always conspire to doom us?

Chris Clayton,

Hempland Drive, York.

...YOUR leader called the attack on New York and Washington "unprovoked" (October 8). Unprovoked? I don't think so. What in the name of God has the USA, and to some degree UK, been doing since the end of the Second World War and, latterly, after the collapse of state capitalism?

The Taliban did not fly into suburbia or some urban sprawl. It flew into what it believes symbolises the West's grip on the world - money and coercion. We in the West have to look at our own culpability.

The Archbishop of York calls the bombing of Afghanistan a just war. No wonder Christians are finding "alternative religions" and leaving the established church in their droves.

The Archbishop's time would be better spent fighting the only just war - that against homelessness, destitution, poverty and ignorance - and not being a puppet for the West's bloodlust.

James J Stewart,

Beech Grove,

York.

...ISN'T it amazing how light-heartedly the terror bombing of Afghanistan is reported?

No tears now, no pictures of weeping relatives or heroic rescue workers, no three minutes' silence for these innocent victims, just a gung-ho celebration of military power as hired killers load bombs and missiles inscribed with amusing graffiti from New York.

Blair and his accomplices lack the sense, or the courage, to recognise terrorism in any other guise than that prescribed by the rednecks in Washington.

They should know the US has directly sponsored terror in dozens of countries during the last 50 years, including Afghanistan.

The Contras were created, trained, armed and totally financed by the US.

Secretary of State Colin Powell, his deputy Richard Armitage, John Negroponte, Ambassador to the UN and George Bush senior were key figures in organising the Contras. Here is a quote from their spokesman Edgar Chamorro: "They arrive at an undefended village, assemble all the residents in the square, and then proceed to kill, in full view of the others, all persons working for the government - including police, local militia members, health workers, teachers and farmers."

For the British people to tolerate the war crimes committed in their names by this disgusting 'conservative' Government is, in itself, shameful. For Tony Blair and Jack Straw to give their unswerving support to every atrocity dreamt up in Washington shames this country in the eyes of the world.

R Westmoreland,

The Oval,

Pocklington, York.

...I READ with interest your debate 'Attack Afghanistan?' (September 20), which reached Devon a few days later.

Roger Westmoreland wrote eloquently about the plight of Iraq. It is not only sustained bombing which has damaged Iraq, but also a regime of economic sanctions, which has denied essential medicines and ruined the infrastructure of a once-sophisticated economy.

The USA and Britain continue to support these sanctions, even though other countries are now less willing to do so.

According to UNICEF the sanctions have contributed to the deaths of half a million children in Iraq.

Readers who want more information about the shocking conditions now suffered by the Iraqi people - and what can be done to try to help them - can contact Voices In The Wilderness uk, which campaigns for the immediate and unconditional lifting of the economic sanctions. The telephone number is 0845 458 2564 (local rate) or see www.viwuk.freeserve.co.uk

Ginny Davies,

Churchill Road,

Tavistock, Devon.

...AS the threat of international terrorism increases, millions are thinking the unthinkable - that we are entering an era of bio-terrorism warfare with civilians as the prime targets.

I feel the real villains of the piece - or should it be peace - are the irresponsible scientists who created these abominations: chemical, biological and radiological such as the nerve gases, Sarin, Tabun and many others.

The Pentagon has built a germ factory capable of producing enough bacteria to kill millions.

All these, and many other vile creations, will have been tested at Porton Down and other places of torture and extreme cruelty on innocent creatures.

They do not start wars and perish with the rest of us.

I hope the scientists are proud of their life's work.

B Stockton,

Bishopthorpe Road,

York.

Updated: 11:05 Wednesday, October 10, 2001