MGG Pillai is on the defensive: "I have received much hate mail for what I wrote" ('American view of terrorism as criminal act wrong', Sept 14). I was shocked by his article ('America must accept this retaliation', Sept 12) in response to the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City.

I know both Palestinians and Jews. I never meet them at the same time, or let them know that I count among my friends people they consider their enemy. The hatred on one side and the zeal on the other can be frightening. (This does not mean that all Palestinians or Jews share these feelings, only that I have experienced this intensity in some people.)

There are two schools of thought in resolving conflicts: the doves and the hawks. Although one can hope that this attack in the US will help resolve some of the conflict in the world, I think it is likely to make the job that much more difficult.

I am a Mat Salleh, and I did not rejoice at Operation Desert Storm. To my elected leaders, I have repeatedly expressed my opposition to the continued military action against Iraq. The attacks of Sept 11 played into the hands of the hawks and will marginalise even more those within Western countries who are seeking justice and peace across the world.

I am therefore not inclined to think that destroying the World Trade Center was less bad than the bombing of Baghdad. I will stand corrected if it does in fact help to bring peace.