I agree with the sentiments expressed by Harry Reid ("Judge not Putin lest the West be judged too", The Herald, March 4).

Glass houses and throwing stones spring to mind here. He makes reference to the actions of the West in Iraq and Afghanistan.

There is, however, another glaring example of the US resorting to action for its own perceived benefit, immune to the views of other countries and believing that it could get away with it. I refer to the invasion of Grenada, a member of the British Commonwealth, in 1983. Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister at the time, received a phone call from the US after the invasion had started. She was not apparently best pleased.

President Reagan had put forward unsubstantiated claims that facilities were being prepared on Grenada to service a Soviet Union Bear bomber base. This was supported by dark pictures taken by satellite. Shades here of the "dodgy dossier" produced in advance of the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

The truth of the matter lay in the fact that a Marxist form of government had taken power in 1979 and that was unacceptable to the US. The American administration already had to live with Castro in Cuba, who, however, was supported by the Soviet Union. They were not unduly fazed by international opinion and were prepared to let Margaret Thatcher let off steam since they knew that she would not be doing anything else.

Russia has much at stake, both in relation to the position of Ukraine in respect of Europe generally and the strategic importance of Crimea with regard to security and military facilities. Those in government in Russia, given the military adventures over the years of some of the Western powers, must view with some disdain the platitudes and grandstanding of the US and the UK about the observance of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of independent countries.

Ian W Thomson,

38 Kirkintilloch Road,

Lenzie.

The conflict in the Ukraine brought to mind that the port of Sebastopol was founded by Rear Admiral Thomas MacKenzie of the Russian Navy whose progenitors came from the Isle of Lewis in the Western Isles. There is a MacKenzie Hill in Sevastopol and the Battle of Balaclava was fought in the vicinity of MacKenzie's farm. The Scots are taught little of their country's history and therefore I am not surprised that I have never met even one Scottish historian who ever heard of MacKenzie, whom I believe was the third generation of his family to serve with distinction in the Russian Navy.

Donald J MacLeod,

49 Woodcroft Avenue,

Bridge of Don,

Aberdeen.