Charles Moreira's response to my letter merits a response if only because he does a disservice to all those who have highlighted and spoken out against the 'outrages' he speaks of. [#1]Voices of outrage that were silent before[/#], March 9)

His letter is suggestive of the pitiful state of political discourse not only in Malaysia, but in international relations more generally. Half truths and absurd analogies are presented in his letter as if they reveal the 'real' but hidden intent and meaning of critics of the Taliban's actions.

Another easy way to deflect criticism is to pose a rhetorical question, and question the writer's motives and agency on the basis of nothing more than pure speculation as he does in his letter.

Perhaps, if malaysiakini had been around then we could have had a lively exchange over the Gulf War and various other issues. He asks (no doubt a rhetorical question): Where was I at those times?

Since he throws this out like a red herring I shall in turn risk asking him: Where were you, Mr Moreira? He might do us all a service by communicating his own writings on those other crimes when they took place.