Migrant ‘swarm’

Regarding the various letters (1 August) concerning the migrants in Calais, I find the mad military manoeuvrings of our governments (past and present) that have contributed to the swarm leave me in awe.

Having bombed Afghanistan and much of the Middle East into an uninhabitable chaos, they then, without a trace of irony, suggest destroying the boats used by the poor people trying to flee these bombed-out failed states – by bombing them.

Failing that and assuming some brave souls will still survive the perils of fleeing the failed states on frail craft across the Mediterranean, or overland through Europe, the present government seem to be considering employing Ghurkha soldiers (natives of another country we once bombed) from UK regiments to stop these fleeing refugees from entering the UK at our southern borders.

I’m reminded of the late great Joseph Heller’s Catch 22 character US Army Air Corps’ First Lieutenant Milo Minderbinder, whose company, M&M Enterprises, had the contract to bomb an enemy, German, occupied city in Italy, but also had the franchise for the anti-aircraft defence of said city.

Even Heller at his satirical, anti-war fictional best would be hard pressed to compete with today’s chaotic reality.

Tom Minogue

Victoria Terrace

Dunfermline, Fife

Those criticising our Prime Minister for referring to a “swarm of migrants” are either ignorant of the English language or are attempting to manufacture a political advantage.

The Oxford English Dictionary has several definitions of swarm. Among them are “a dense crowd”, “moving along in a dense crowd”, “collect or congregate thickly”, “contain large numbers of people or things”, all perfectly describing the events in Calais. It is clear that David Cameron’s words were perfectly legitimate. The reference to insects was not by him but by his critics in a silly attempt to discredit him.

Donald Carmichael

Orchard Court

East Linton