Sir, I fear that Professor Shaun Gregory (letter, September 14) is gravely wrong in his view that terrorists lack the power directly to effect political change.
Within a week of the Madrid train bombings, José María Aznar’s Popular Party had lost power to José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero’s socialists in an unexpected election result, clearly influenced by the population’s belief that a pro-Bush party in charge of their country made them more susceptible to Islamic terrorism.
However, I believe that to attack a nation such as Afghanistan, which is clearly only a potential supporter of Islamic terrorism, is counter-productive. How will the inevitable deaths of innocents encourage such nations to welcome the West as a friend?
Yours faithfully,
NICK SHEERIN,
Grafton House,
Oundle School,
Peterborough PE8 4AF.
September 14.