IS fight is a duty like that of our families who fought Hitler

My uncle Frank was a dyed-in-the-wool Irish Republican whose ankle was shattered and left permanently impaired serving as a motorbike messenger in the British Army during the Second World War (he always denied that drink the night before played any part).

Uncle Jimmy (see above) was a bomb disposal expert. My uncle (through marriage) Peter's brother, a professional sailor in the Royal Navy, was on the beaches at Normandy as a liaison between the beachhead and the Navy. He later trained at All Hallows College, Dublin, and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Saint Elizabeth.

They were right to fight Hitler. We should not fail to fight IS and their like. Campbell and Marr should hang their heads in shame for trying to play petty politics while innocent men, women and children, Arab and Westerner alike, Christian and Muslim alike, are most brutally done to death in the most barbaric manner, and seemingly on an industrial scale, but that might be an understatement as it could be far worse.

Hugh McLoughlin,

24 Russell Street,

Mossend, Bellshill.

IS it just me, or is the media in general missing some important points and hypocrisies regarding the imminent all-out war in the Middle East?

Public executions such as we have observed recently are indeed barbaric, and it must be awful for families involved. However, it can't go unnoticed that the US still executes its own citizens and the Saudi regime, our biggest ally in the region, still holds to similar barbaric practices.

Is this then a matter of do as I say? Because one thing is certain. IS didn't come to power overnight, and questions remain as to who funds and arms this organisation.

Bryan Paterson,

67 Brewland Street,

Galston.

IMAGINE the reaction of people in these islands if, during the IRA bombing campaigns on mainland Britain, a number of Arab states formed a coalition (of the willing?) and began bombing republican areas of Belfast and Londonderry.

Despite the use of "smart bombs" to target known terrorist strongholds, there is, unfortunately, some collateral damage to churches, pubs, and community centres with resultant death and injury to many (an exact tally is never kept).

As a precaution against attack, the oil installations in the North Sea are secured by special forces.

It is thought boots on the ground will not be necessary. They are not ruled out by military chiefs, but they hope to avoid becoming embroiled in a long campaign of guerilla warfare .

The UN impotently demands these hostilities cease until agreement on a resolution can be agreed but is vetoed by Iraq, which claims innocent people are being slaughtered whilst politicians engage in endless and fruitless discussion.

"This is not a threat on the far side of the world," claims the Iraqi PM. "This international operation is about protecting our people too and protecting the streets of Baghdad."

The Coalition have dubbed this operation Patience and Persistence, though it is thought some would have preferred Shock and Awe.

James Mills,

29 Armour Square,

Johnstone.

THE motion authorising UK participation in Iraq was only supposed to authorise British military strikes there, stating it did "not endorse UK airstrikes in Syria as part of this campaign and any proposal to do so would be subject to a separate vote in Parliament".

In reality, however, the debate was the preparation for war against the Syrian regime of Bashar al Assad. The RAF's Akrotiri base is just 100 miles from the Syrian border.

Flouting basic premises of international law, David Cameron told parliament there was "no legal barrier" to similar action in Syria. He made clear British armed intervention in Iraq was central to the eventual removal of the Assad government, using the pretext of the need to defeat Islamic State.

Mr Cameron said military action by British forces could proceed in Syria without resort to parliament.

Dismissing concerns about Britain's criminal role in supporting the illegal US invasion of Iraq in 2003, which led to the collapse of Iraqi society and created the basis for the present crisis, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said parliament could not be "trapped or paralysed by the past".

There were no limits to the hypocrisy displayed in parliament. Panegyrics were offered up time and again to what one MP called parliament's upholding of "freedom, democracy, justice and human rights". The reality is that Britain and other imperialist powers are not remotely concerned about democracy or an order governed by any rules. The bombing campaign being carried out by the US in Iraq was not voted on by Congress. Nor has the UN passed any resolution authorising it.

The debate revealed the extent to which the ruling elite in Britain is firmly on a war footing, with the Labour Party leading the charge.

The cost of this war is going to be £3 billion. All of this while children go to bed malnourished because of Westminster austerity measures.

Alan Hinnrichs,

2 Gillespie Terrace,

Dundee.

NO-ONE can doubt the skill, valour and courage of our military personnel. What does, however, dismay me is the lack of these qualities in our members of the Westminster parliament.

Once again, bellicose Westminster is prepared to sacrifice the lives of our dedicated young to supress a terror threat from Islamic State in Iraq. Are they not aware the Muslim youth are not being radicalised in Syria and Iraq, but here in the West? Westminster needs to use its time, effort and energy to discover the reasons why people are radicalised in the UK and then allocate the funds and resources to tackling this cancer.

But, no, while screaming austerity, cutting benefits and starving the NHS of funds, they can find the unlimited wherewithal to provide expensive bombs and missiles. Is this the parliament we deserve? Was it for this that we declined independence for Scotland?

Brian Rattray,

124/2 Gylemuir Road,

Edinburgh.