L SPITERI obviously resents reaction to his political prompting in your newspaper.

I would not presume to prompt others. Such behaviour on the part of political laymen is indicative of an assumed intellectual superiority, being convinced that others are in need of their advice.

Contrary to his remarks, Communism and Socialism can come out of the same paint can. Regimes based on control of the masses enjoy the taste of power and thirst for more.

Yes, Russia did lose many lives - in her own interest. Strategy in the interest of human lives was ignored in favour of throwing in thousands of live bodies to block the German advance with walls of dead ones.

Life is cheap under dictatorship but Mr Spiteri infers that that is being unselfish. Democracy is being eroded; similarly in the EU.

S JOHNSON,

Worcester.