Letter: Useless Nato

Sir: Since 1989, the West has shown no compassion whatsoever for the people of the former Soviet Union and former Yugoslavia. Levels of health care, welfare, education and life expectancy in the region have collapsed beneath Western-backed economic "reforms". The objective has been to return the region to vulnerable, Third World status all the better to take advantage of its human and natural resources.

The idea that the West is now motivated to act out of compassion for a small number of the same mass of people is simply surreal.

DAVID EDWARDS

Bournemouth, Dorset