General discontent

IT may be unwise for General Sir Mike Jackson to involve himself in the ongoing discussion about Scotland's future (your report, 30 June). Understandably however, it is clear that the distinguished general's opinion is driven more by the future of the army that he loves than Scotland's security!

The general may be better employed making his case for the army to Westminster politicians, whose motivation is driven more by prestige and self- importance than the future wellbeing of that army – hence the disaster in Iraq and the eventual embarrassment in Afghanistan, which will be covered by the usual dishonesty from said politicians.

The renewal of Trident, seen as "wrong" by senior officers, and the building of new aircraft carriers now appear to be in some doubt and could well be cancelled/postponed in the political interest of this awful government in this financial disaster – much of it of Brown's creation.

I have great respect for the general and his concerns for the army's future, but his statement that Scotland is safer in the Union is wrong. Maybe a dissolution of the Union would lead to a more mature respect for other countries at Westminster and a realisation of the realities of peaceful co-existence.

BILL McLEAN

Rosemill Court,

Dunfermline, Fife