IN response to Mr Roger’s well argued case for more evidence from the UK Government against the Russians, the strength of his argument was undermined by the “knee-jerk” reaction with which he associates Nicola Sturgeon (Letters, The National, March 16).

On matters of national security, any opposing position on the part of the Scottish Government would most certainly contravene the authority of UK Government, as set out in the Scotland Act. At the other extreme, silence could be equally damming and so clarity is required. At a time when we are trying to get a deal out of Brexit, the last thing we need is for the First Minister or Scottish Government, to create a legal precedent whereby Westminster can exercise its legal authority to suspend the Scottish Parliament.

Whether or not it would do so is a matter of conjecture. However, Nicola Sturgeon’s statement very effectively neutralises this possibility and protects our negotiating position on matters of more importance to the Scottish people.
Iain Jack
Blairgowrie

“YOU must be aware of the heinous crime committed recently in Salisbury against two of your former citizens, affecting also a police officer in the course of his duties. Although our initial investigation almost incontrovertibly identifies the nerve agent involved as of Russian origin, under accepted protocols, we have called in the international inspectors to verify these findings. “We are sure that you do not wish the state you lead to be judged worldwide as deliberately responsible for this unforgivable and inhumane attack on private citizens of another country, going about their daily lives. We therefore would expect you to join with us in supporting these further investigations and assisting in bringing those responsible to justice.

“We await your response at the very least within the internationally agreed timetable.”

No, no-one has sent this message, but in the past few days, a number of my friends and others I have met have voiced their opinion that an initial contact along these lines would have been wiser than the immediate rush to condemnation and instigation of a tit-for-tat process of sanctions. That can only end in a downward spiral into serious hostilities, unless and until one side or the other calls a halt. Echoes of the Cuban stand-off, anyone?

It seems that politics have reached a point where “strong and stable” can only be demonstrated by bully-boy tactics that lead to an intractable state of enmity and aggression. In this instance, all that has done is probably increase the vote for Putin in the current elections and increase his power with his own people.

Would an offer such as above not instead have put him on the spot and denied him the propaganda opportunity, while still reserving our options for action?
L McGregor
Falkirk

GRAEME Goodall (Letters, The National, March 16) says RT is the only alternative source to the MSM.

I go to Al Jazeera for my news. I have found AJ to provide good coverage of world affairs both in their news programmes and their documentaries. AJ has covered the opening of the Queensferry Crossing and the sale of the island of Ulva in greater detail than I have seen on UK TV.

AJ also shows documentaries about a variety of situations of interest throughout the world. It has just shown a documentary called Pricing the Planet, which is an exposé of the way even nature has its price in the modern world. Included was the exclusion of people from land they have farmed for many years in order to plant trees. These were not mixed diversity forests to help the environment, but mono-culture trees which will destroy the long-term viability of the soil in the name of short-term financial gain from landowners who wish to make money and appear “green”.

AJ is of course the broadcaster of the state of Qatar, a small middle-eastern country of 2.6 million people and substantial oil deposits sharing a border with a much larger southern neighbour which seeks regime change because the Qataris wish to pursue a different path. This border has been closed for some months, and the Qataris have had to become self-sufficient as the people have had to make adjustments in order not to capitulate. Saudi Arabia charges Qatar with supporting terrorism, despite itself being a major player in this field, ably supported by the UK through the supply of arms.

As a postscript, I should like to add my voice to those who question Russian government involvement in Salisbury. Talk about conspiracy theories. We shall probably never learn the truth as that is always the first casualty of war. In the UK, our bumbling leaders, striving to hide the Brexit debacle need a distraction and Putin and Russia quickly followed by Corbyn et al will serve them well.

We have already had the sniping at the Scottish Government for not rolling over for them. Am I getting echoes of the Saudi/Qatar situation here?
Robert Mitchell
Stirling

IF I may be allowed a few words to clarify my position on the poison gas issue.

I put no faith whatsoever in the pronouncements coming from either side, neither of which I have any time for, and I doubt if we will ever know the real truth in this matter, whatever that is. My point was wondering why the SNP felt it necessary to take any part or public position on this.
David McEwan Hill
Sandbank, Argyll