The Guards’ retreat is surrendering to terror

You reported last week that the Queen’s Guard on duty outside Royal establishments in London has been withdrawn behind the gates. This is a result of the appeasement culture.

Fear of causing offence. Fear of compensation claims. We are not allowed to comment on groups who want to destroy our way of life. The police have already been emasculated. Now this nonsense.

Most of us know that if a guardsman were attacked and defended himself, he would be prosecuted. Weak, cowardly and supine politicians have allowed this collapse.

W. George, London So it is OK for these soldiers to go on patrol in Afghanistan and lose limbs, but they cannot have live ammunition when on guard duty in this country? They are called Guards because they are there to guard the Queen and us.

David Ambler, London The fact that these troops are only there as a tourist attraction does not make this any less a psychological victory for terrorism, and it will be seen as such by radicalised Muslims in this country.

C. Newton, Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire Soldiers were told not to wear anything off duty that identified them as belonging to the Army. Then the police were instructed not to wear their uniforms travelling to work. Now the Queen’s Guard retreats. The next logical step is for all soldiers and police officers to have their faces covered when on duty.

The Government is all too willing to send our troops to war but is terrified by any possibility of blood on its own doorstep.

Alan Aitchison, Wakefield It’s time for Britain to identify and deal with the root cause of terror and to call it that rather than wishing it didn’t exist and claiming success without any substantive action.

Sam James, Tucson, USA There should be sufficient armed Guards on patrol at these strategic points to protect each other. At Edinburgh Castle, will the sentries now be patrolling inside the castle?

George James, Torremolinos, Spain I back this because our Guards wanted it. But I’m tired of our playing dead to anyone who threatens us. Terrorism is a risk to us all because it pays off. We should have faced this a long time ago, without the PC approach that isn’t working.

Charlie Hunt, Leeds Whatever is our country coming to? Safety has now apparently become synonymous with cowardice. The jihadis must be laughing their socks off.

Mrs K. Payling, Barnsley