LIKE John Elder (Letters, September 22), I have sayings I dislike but I also have some that I like and stand by such as "I do not agree with what you say but I defend to the death your right to say it". I have stood by that maxim all my life but Mr Elder's statement makes me have some doubts.
Here is someone writing in to a national newspaper advocating the murder of a person he doesn't agree with politically (President Assad). If someone supporting radical Islam publicly supported the line of political assassination they could justifiably be arrested.
If we follow Mr Elder's line of thinking President Nixon for his illegal bombing of Cambodia, George W Bush and Tony Blair for their illegal wars in Iraq, the Saudi leadership for their indiscriminate bombing of Yemen, and those past and present who ordered what amounts to war crimes committed by Israel should all be assassinated.
The world today is in a terrible mess, I hope that there are not people in positions of power who think like Mr Elder, because if there is God help us.
Hamilton Connolly,
60 Mingulay Street, Milton, Glasgow.
FORMER Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was highly critical of the United Nations in a report from the Independent Commission on Multilateralism - which he chaired. The report called firstly for all nations to recommit to multilateralism.
There would be difficulty at this initial hurdle. The United States might be unwilling to set an example of compliance with global discipline; would it surrender its past privileges of unilateral action in the world. Secondly Washington might not be prepared to have a robust political leader at the UN. Mr Rudd is certainly plain-speaking, recognises important trends and is highly respected in the populous countries in his part of the world. It has been suggested that the present government of Australia refused to support his candidacy for the leadership of the UN because he might challenge existing powers; best to remove him before the vote takes place; another Dag Hammarskjöld is the last person some want.
There is scope for much improvement of the UN at next month's meetings of its key agencies – the IMF and the World Bank.
Ian Jenkins,
7 Spruce Avenue, Hamilton.
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