Sir, – It beggars belief, given what we are witnessing in Afghanistan, that Roger Cole is questioning the EU's military endeavours in the Sahel (Letters, August 25th). Western forces are in the Sahel to stop the ideological kindred spirits of the Taliban from destabilising the region.
Were the western forces not there, the region would be a haven for extremists, drug traffickers and criminals, and would see large numbers of people fleeing to Europe to escape the calamity that would doubtless ensue.
Safe and sound in Dalkey, it is easy to wag the finger and moralise but a more realistic appraisal would see the €2 billion, which Mr Cole bemoans, as money well spent. – Yours, etc,
PAUL WILLIAMS,
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Kilkee,
Co Clare.