What a load of rubbish your correspondent Zerine Tata spouted ('What will the war achieve?' Times, December 6).

It is the voice of a small minority of cynical, naive and ignorant people, who obviously do not understand the reason for the war in Afghanistan. The war has already resulted in the downfall of the Taliban dictatorship and the beginning of the end of the al-Qaeda movement. And why have a go at the USA? They were the recipients of terrorism, not the perpetrators.

Perhaps your correspondent is in favour of the treatment of women and children, the executions and the drug trade by the Taliban.

Ralph Fort

The Retreat

North Harrow