Sir, – Russia has joined Britain, France and the USA in bombing Syria.
Russia has a nuclear deterrent, as have Britain and France. The USA has the biggest nuclear deterrent on the planet.
However, the combined weight of all those deterrents has left the terrorists undeterred.
In America, the proliferation of hand guns has led to various mentally unstable individuals perpetrating mass shootings and here, in Scotland, Dunblane remains ahorrific memory.
Pointing a gun at someone is a criminal offence, and rightly so, but governments across the globe, including the UK’s, believe aligning weapons of mass destruction againstcivilians is the only way ahead.
If we retain any grain of hope towards again leading the world, in anything, surely we should lead in relinquishing membership of this nuclear gun club and declare an end to Trident renewal now.
Joseph G Miller. 44 Gardeners Street, Dunfermline.
GM ban a caseof perceptions
Sir, – If I understand the situation correctly, Dr Trudgill is under a misapprehension regarding the decision to ban GM crops (October 15).
The Scottish Government did not ban such crops entirely on scientific grounds, in fact they may still be grown for research purposes, but because of possibledamage to the perception, outwith Scotland as well as at home, ofScottish food crops as green and clean.
Such a perception, and any possible effect on it, is difficult to quantify, but it does exist, and I believe the government did take advice on this aspect.
I hasten to add I have no expertise in this area, and my opinion is based solely on what has been published.
Laurie Richards. 100 Crail Road, Cellardyke.
Migrants flee for peaceful lives
Sir, – Readers ofCourier letters may remember AndrewLawson’s anti-Islamic views, however, in hisletter of October 14, he fails to understand the point of my letter.
It is almost impossible to describe Islam as asingle religious entity or one combined threat to Europe as Mr Lawson suggests.
The Islamic faith has numerous beliefs and historical and religious divisions which have existed since the death of its founder and continue to internally divide the MiddleEastern Islamic nations.
It is right to point out the dangers forecast by radical Islamic leaders towards the West but not to quantify Islam as one integrated threat.
No doubt hostile terrorists will continue their plots and Europe must maintain the strictest security and strong military forces to face hostile actions whether from inside or outside Europe.
However, the current threat of IS, with itsdistorted and vile form of Islamic belief, is the most dangerous and isrepugnant to millions of ordinary and, I believe, peace-loving citizens throughout those countries currently torn apart by them.
Witness the mass exodus of terrified people from Syria and Iraq in recent months.
Surely even MrLawson should accept they are all not fleeing to Europe solely to plot religious and social revolution but in the hope of more peaceful lives.
Angus Brown. The Orchard, Longforgan.
Angus elderly living in fear
Sir, – May I add myfeelings about the changes to sheltered housing in Angus.
I am one of 18 tenants in Airlie Gardenscomplex in Brechin.
I am 92 and came here because I could get help if it was needed.
The loss of ourtenancy-support officer will be a backward step.
We have manyvulnerable residents and are very worried about the changes.
The complex may go into mainstream housing and then who willmonitor who gets a flat?
Residents were happy but are now worried about what is going to happen.
Samuel Balfour. 12 Airlie Gardens, Brechin.
Tide may turn on older voters
Sir, – Recent opinion polls show still healthy support for the SNP in the run-up to May’sScottish elections.
That in itself is only slightly surprising because it shows the new Labour leadership duo has failed to stem the exodus of its support.
But what is moreinteresting is when you break down the age demographics. There is massive support for the nationalists in the younger age group, indeed if only under 55 year old’s were on last September’s votingfranchise we would already be watching our billions in revenue flooding into Holyrood rather than Westminster.
I would like to think that if I were of pensionable age at the referendum I would not have allowed myself to believe the liars saying my benefits would stop tomorrow if I voted yes, especially as a DWP letter from early 2013 stated that, of course, the pensions are safe, although as part of the UK I’m not sure that’s true anymore.
So it would seem that the age group set to be most affected by change and for longest, are the ones who crave the change most, which is very telling.
And while the caution of the older generation is understandable it seems the clock is ticking and the tide may be about to turn.
Richard Clark. Craigton, Monikie.
Many months of smears ahead
Sir, – Project fear was unleashed on the Scottish nation prior to and during last year’s referendum and played its part in the narrow outcome of the same in favour of the unionists.
Once the Scottish public realised they had been duped by a consortium of politicians and an equally mendacious media, Labour, Tories and Liberals paid the price.
In a few months there will be Holyrood elections and since project fear has lost any impact with the electorate we are now faced with project smear with an added helping of innuendo.
Michelle Thomson has not been charged with any wrongdoing yet we were treated to thepresent incumbent of Labour’s branch office launching into a diatribe relating to Ms Thomson.
Ms Dugdale was assisted in this smear-fest by Ruth Davidson and it was clear that both had colluded in the attack.
The only one missing from the three amigos was Willie Rennie. His attack strategy is to monster Police Scotland at every opportunity.
Smear and innuendo is the stock in trade of your columnist Jenny Hjul, who complained that a young Tory was hit with an egg.
What she fails to report is that the well-aimed egg was the result of the said Tory provoking the demonstrators by waving a photo of Margaret Thatcher in their faces.
Attacks on Ms Thomson and FionaHyslop are part of astrategy aimed at the main target, the Scottish Government.
We can look forward to months of stories regarding failings in the health service, education and of course courtesy of Willie Rennie, the police.
James Smith. 4 Brownhill Place, Camperdown, Dundee.
Concentrate on running nation
Sir, – At her opening speech at the SNP conference, Nicola Sturgeon kicked off the May 2016 Holyrood campaign by assuring no voters another independence referendum isn’t on the cards and promises a programme of radical reform. Sounds familiar?
In May’s General Election Ms Sturgeon stood on an anti-austerity platform, insisting the election wasn’t about independence and no voters massively backed her.
Yet within hours of her historic victory, Ms Sturgeon threatened David Cameron with demands for another referendum if he didn’t cave into her every demand. And her MPs continue to do the same on a daily basis.
Plus, what happened to all that anti-austerity rhetoric? What has the SNP actually achieved to improve the lives of Scotland’s poor and needy?
Few doubt the SNP will do well next May but, beset by scandals in Westminster and Holyrood, can the party woo no voters as it did in May?
Scots now realise the SNP’s reputation as effective managers of Scotland is in doubt.
While the nationalists have spent the last four years obsessing about independence, our education system, the NHS and emergency services have become seriously neglected.
And surely MsSturgeon is being disingenuous by suggesting she’s not focused on independence.
Can this leopard ever really change her spots?
Martin Redfern. 4 Royal Circus, Edinbugh.
SNP has won our trust
Sir, – I read withinterest Harry Wills’letter (October 15) and have to say it was a very in-depth analysis of the state of politicalleafleting in his area.
After reading it all and digesting the analysis, I reached the conclusion that the LiberalDemocrats are indeed in dire straits and now understand the reason why the majority ofpeople in Scotland have put their faith in theSNP to run this country and represent them in Westminster.
Bryan Auchterlonie. Ardargie, Perth.