Al-Qaida is the real threat — not US

THE blatant anti-Americanism in some of the letters you’ve published in recent week is simply ridiculous.

I am no Bush supporter and I realise there is much wrong with the US political system, but despite the shortcomings I support the US role in Iraq because I feel it will ultimately help anyone at risk from terrorism.

The US is not the biggest threat to world peace — al-Qaida is. It’s absurd to blame the US for al-Qaida atrocities. These terrorists are insane and only use the US as an excuse to injure, kill and torture innocent people just because they don’t fit into their warped view of racial and religious superiority.

While Abu Ghraib was despicable, the people involved have been punished. On the other hand, al-Qaida are kidnapping people and torturing them in the most barbaric ways possible before beheading them and filming the executions for their own sick propaganda purposes.

These people are trying to hold the world, including their own people, to ransom and must be dealt with severely. It is pointless now to argue that the Iraq war should never have happened, so let’s focus instead on rebuilding the country and stamping out al-Qaida for good.

The vast majority of the coalition forces are not involved in unsavoury acts against Iraqis.

Sorcha Healy

12 Montenotte Road

Montenotte

Cork