Why we cannot win the war on terrorism

I WAS amazed to read Mr Readman's letter about Jean Charles de Menezes who was shot dead by police on a train at Stockwell station. (Your Say, September 27).

It is my opinion that Mr Readman has never had firearms training. Being an ex-serviceman of 37 years, I have. It is impossible to fight terrorism. Our experiences in Northern Ireland should have taught us that. You can only talk with them. Without dialogue it is impossible to create a peace.

The terrorist can strike anywhere, at any time, with whatever form of munitions he or she chooses. How do you fight that?

But back to Mr Menezes. Seven bullets in the head is not an accident. It is an execution. The man was on board an underground train. He was unarmed. He was not the right man – yet they pumped seven bullets into his head.

In the end, they panicked. Armed policemen, in London, panicked. And what is scary, is that they are still out there carrying loaded guns.

I used to be scared of fighting alongside the Americans.

That fear now includes armed English policemen. The accident, which Mr Readman wants us to brush aside, is the mistaken identity which, among professionals, should have been verified.

How many times has Mr Readman said "hello" to people, only to apologise for it being mistaken identity? I have done so many times but, according to Mr Readman, luckily, never with a gun in my hands.

I am not advocating that we stop protecting the public. But I will say that within the British armed forces, there are many who think that the British Government has not got the foggiest idea how!

Jeremy BellMartock Somerset