Madam, - I read with horror the opinion of Mark Steyn (March 27th). His idea that unwritten laws are inherently useless because adherence to them is not forced is missing the point entirely. If the law between states is that there is none, then justification is not needed, or sought, by rogue states. If the response to this is that a coalition of nations do as they see fit to control these rogue states, they will, through the then arbitrary nature of their actions, hand justification for similar arbitrary choices being made by these rogue states.
As it is they may not adhere to international law but those who do have justification, within the boundaries they have accepted, to act in defence of these laws. How, therefore, would lawless anarchy between states stop the abuse of principles and how would we decide to respond to these abuses with justification without international law? - Yours etc.,
CORMAC O'NOLAN, Ashford, Co Wicklow.