Madam, - The article by Richard Boyd Barrett in your edition of February 7th is a prime example of facts being distorted and conflated to fit a prior ideological position, in which the blackening of American intentions and actions is the overriding rule.
The anti-war left is understandably annoyed and discomfited at the apparent failure of the Iraqi people to follow the script set for them by the likes of Mr Boyd Barrett. Objective reports suggest that for the first time it looks possible that US attempts to put a representative government in place could succeed.
The election indicated that the insurgents are not supported by the Iraqi population at large. Indeed it made the insurgents appear the isolated and brutal terrorists they are.
Mr Boyd Barrett's assertion that the insurgency in Iraq is a response to the brutality of the occupation reveals a disturbing level of moral blindness in excusing the actions of these thugs merely because they share the anti-war left's extreme anti-Americanism. He would seem to prefer any regime, no matter how terrible, so long as America is seen to fail in its stated commitment to bring democracy to Iraq.
Following the success of the election, I suspect that Mr Boyd Barrett could well find himself on the wrong side of history, along with the insurgents.
His tone suggests he already knows this and is fearful of it. - Yours, etc.,
JOEL FITZPATRICK,
Dalkey Avenue,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.
Madam, - Richard Boyd Barrett states that "the claim of 59 per cent turnout was deliberately misleading" and tells us that the figure was based on registered, not eligible voters. He conveniently fails to point out that, across the democratic world, percentage turnout is measured on the basis of registered voters.
He also calls for the removal of US troops from Iraq. This attitude is completely counter-productive as it would result in the complete destruction of order, leaving the country controlled by dangerous terrorists, at a terrible human cost. It would also have serious repercussions for the Middle East as a whole. Democracies do not sprout up overnight. They need time to develop. The recent elections in Iraq were the first step on the road to a stable, democratic Iraq, and ultimately a peaceful Middle East. We, the people of the West, should give our full support to the people of Iraq on their journey towards democracy and reject Mr Boyd-Barrett's attempts to undermine the development of democracy. - Yours, etc.,
STEPHEN McLOUGHLIN,
Ashbourne,
Co Meath.