Bush defends the highest code

PATRICK SEALE might be a writer on Middle East topics, but he knows little about American politics (May 26). If he did, he would not spend time in a vitriolic diatribe against a president who has done just about all that he can because he is working with a Congress, the majority of whom are not of his party and without whose approval he cannot spend money.

Seale would also know that every American president must recognise the huge support for Israel in our country. Seale would also know that no one in America, including Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney, would ever say that the 9/11 disaster was “a gift from the gods”.

Mr Seale has forgotten, in his ignorant blathering, that peace talks in the Middle East predate former President Jimmy Carter. The fact is that we were attacked by 19 militants who have not yet issued any manifesto regarding their actions.

There was, and still is, no one with whom to negotiate. History gives another lesson for Mr Seale. Negotiations rarely proceed until after the fight is over. Isn’t that how the UN was formed, or the Republic of Ireland for that matter? Is Mr Seale suggesting that after 9/11 we should have looked into ourselves and tried to determine what we did to deserve this? I am not ashamed of my president or my country. To my belief, ours is the highest code of ethics known and our constitution is worthy of emulation, as it has been. Although the standard in western civilisation is high and we do not always measure up, the standard far surpasses any that we have come to know in the Middle East.

Sending mentally handicapped people to deliver bombs, cutting off tongues, hands and heads, covering women from head to toe to walk behind their men, and stoning women... these are not ethics I respect or share.

One thing we should have learned over the past seven years is that there exists an ideological-religious chasm between certain Muslims and the western world.

I am thankful daily to be a citizen of one of the leading countries that shares none of the above ethics. I am pleased that our country stands and fights against those terrorists and I pray daily for those so brave as to fight for us.

There will be a time to negotiate, and we in the western world will be ready. When will the Middle East be ready?

Joyce Anderson Gleasure

Carrigdownane

Kildorrery

Co Cork