While critisizing those who are against American attacks on Afghanistan, Chee Hon's ('What would you do to defend your child?', Oct 9) gave this simplistic example : "If someone were to come into your home with a stick and start beating your child, would you sit idly?

Would you not try to protect your child, thereby resulting in more violence? But if you defend your child, thus creating more violence, wouldn't that be 'wrong'? Shouldn't you be just sitting down and calmly trying to talk to the intruder to get him to stop?.

What is happening in Afghanistan right now is not the act of self-defence as claimed by the Americans. If America is truly fighting terrorism, then the target should not only be Afghanistan. America must also take some action on the IRA and other terrorist groups as well.