WE ARE ALL GUILTY

It was an unthinkable act of terrorism and the only glimmer of humanity was the incalculable bravery of New York's firemen and police.

It is fair to call the victims of this crime 'defenceless' and to mourn the loss of so many lives.

One can also understand the reaction of Americans in wanting swift and terrible revenge.

However, sober reflection warns us against precipitate military action.

If the aim is to wipe out terrorism, some other way must be found to resist these fanatics.

I call the victims of this crime 'defenceless', which they were, but they - like all of us in the West - were not 'innocent'.

Having lived for years in the Far East and in the USA, and having seen the obscene guilt that exists between the rich north and the daily grind of poverty in the poor south, I am convinced that until we find a way of redressing this balance, there will be no peace on the earth.

In a sense, we are all guilty for what happened last Tuesday.

Organisations like Oxfam, Christian Aid, Save the Children - admirable as they are - can only apply a sticking plaster when major surgery is required.

To be fair to Gordon Brown and Clare Short, they have been foremost among the world's leaders in urging the cancellation of debts to the poorest countries, who still pay more in debt repayments than they do for education and health.

Sabre-rattling and threats of reprisal are all very well, but they will not solve the real problem posed by the terrorists - the appalling conditions under which a majority of the world's people suffer.

And we in the West are unwittingly party to this conflict.

Our voice must be heard at the highest levels of government throughout the free world.

BILL DAVIES

Glebelands Road

Knutsford