A COALITION of the willing was quick to launch thousands of air strikes on Libyan forces after Muammar Gaddafi threatened to slaughter the citizens of Benghazi.

Now Bashar al Assad is actually slaughtering the men, women and children of Homs and the respected foreign correspondent. Marie Colvin has been killed ("Tributes to journalist killed in Syrian attack", and Obituary, The Herald, February 23). We seem unable to do anything other than wring our hands in anguish.

The UN should hang its head in shame – in particular the representatives of the governments of Russia and China.

Doug Maughan,

52 Menteith View,

Dunblane.