Nuclear riddle

Your editorial (22 June) states that there are 300 reasons why we should question the need for the Afghan war. The availability of improved artificiaI limbs is neither here nor there.

During the war with Hitler, everybody knew that Nazi Germany had to be fought and beaten, but nobody in Scotland seems to know what the Afghan war is all about, why Nato is involved and why the Taleban are a threat to Scotland. How could they ever get here?

Meanwhile Scotland is burdened with the huge cost of updating the Tridentnuclear missile system. This is a first-strike weapon which targets defenceless civilians in unspecified countries thought to be a possible military threat. Perhaps we should know which countries are supposed to be being deterred from attacking us.

(DR) DAVID PURVES

Strathalmond Road

Edinburgh