I have read many articles published in The Island and I agree with almost everything you say. Your opinion matters a lot and that is why I am writing to you specially after reading "There is no military solution – Go tell that to NATO". I hope you will write an article taking into account the following, suitably titled: All through the ages, during Egyptian, Greek and Roman times, the Crusades and after the Buddha, Christ and Mohamed and in close by India and Ceylon, all wars or conflicts, including the two World Wars, have ended only either by withdrawal, (unconditional or otherwise) or defeat (not destruction) of one side to the conflict – not by negotiations. I have only heard that during the Buddha's time he had settled some conflicts.

If true, these are rare instances and there has not been a Buddha thereafter. So it is abundantly clear that no war can be ended by negotiations. Former President, the late J. R. Jayewardene, at the Peace Conference in San Francisco after Japan was defeated in WWII, magnanimously stated that hatred is never overcome by hatred but by love alone. That was only after the Japanese were defeated. He would never have dared say it during the war!