The real ‘rogues’

Re: “After North Korea, don’t forget Iran”, (Opinion, May 8).

Shmuel Levin has made the usual case for aggression against Iran. North Korea is the big bad bogeyman now of course, with huge amounts of column inches dedicated to the dangers of such a “rogue state”.

Both China and North Korea have made numerous offers of a compromise with regard to the nuclear tests. It’s quite simple: “USA and South Korea resist from giant provocative military drills including warships and B52 bombers (all nuclear armed I must add) and the easing of sanctions for an end to the nuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula”. The US has consistently rejected this and it’s never relayed in the media.

Now to Mr Levin’s real concern, Iran. “Rogue” Iran has not started a war or invaded a foreign country in more than 300 years. Israel on the other hand has invaded Lebanon, Gaza and bombed Syria in the last 11 years alone!

There is no proof that the Assad regime was behind the chemical attacks in Syria; the regime is winning the war for heaven’s sake.

Hezbollah, the terrorist organisation as Mr Levin contends, didn’t even exist before Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982, and only existed after that to end Israeli occupation of that country. Hezbollah is now a democratic force in Lebanon with many social functions including health and education.

There is however a rogue state with constantly expanding borders in the Middle East that also boasts an illegal nuclear arsenal. Hmm, I wonder, could you enlighten us Mr Levin? BRENDAN O-DONNELL Ireland