YOUR editorial (14 November) claims the SNP's opposition to Nato membership would "leave Scotland in unsplendid isolation". To support your claim you need to explain why Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Austria and the Republic of Ireland are "isolated" and what it is you think these countries are missing out on in choosing not to be Nato members.
These countries engage with Nato members on a regular basis. With the possible exception of Ireland, none of these countries are particularly faring any worse in terms of prosperity or quality of life than countries within Nato. Even in Ireland's c
ase, I doubt Nato membership would have saved them from their recent economic turmoil.
It's frankly ludicrous to suggest that Scotland would lose "a credible voice in defence and foreign affairs" simply by choosing to pursue its own defence and foreign policy rather than having it subordinated to the whims of Nato. On the contrary, by leaving Nato Scotland would gain credibility by not being part of an organisation which in the post-Cold War era has itself lost much of its former credibility. Nato broke international law and its own charter when it illegally attacked Yugoslavia. Over 1,000 civilians were killed by its bombing campaign there.
Tens of thousands of Serb, Roma and other ethnic minorities were ethnically cleansed from Kosovo by the KLA as Nato troops looked on and did nothing. This was the reality of Nato's "humanitarian intervention".
Scotland would put itself on the map and gain credibility on the world stage by leaving this organisation. What's more, given that Nato's latest military adventure in Afghanistan looks more likely than ever to end in defeat, the question "what is the point of Nato?" will become an increasingly relevant one in European politics over the next decade.
ANGUS COULL
Lanark Road
EdinburghThe criticism of the SNP's long-established policy against Scotland being part of Nato always implies that the country would become a marginal player in any international initiative. While Unionist politicians shamelessly use Nato as a post-Empire substitute, they are never challenged as to why the SNP policy is parochial and wrong but the same policy adopted by Sweden and Finland is not, particularly when these two countries were more at risk from the Soviet Union than we were?
Afghanistan in all probability will break Nato not just because its members think that only it has right on their side, but also because without the active military involvement of Russia, China and India how can there be global legitimacy?
A non-aligned defence policy will be a pillar of strength for Scotland. What the world needs are honest brokers to solve the world's crises. Scotland can fulfil that role.
GRAEME MCCORMICK
Redhouse Cottage
Arden, Dunbartonshire I am somewhat bemused by the statement from Labour MP George Bruce that for an independent Scotland to be out of Nato is somehow "parochial".
Former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari is a Nobel Peace Prize winner for his work on resolving international conflicts, and Irish forces are serving in Afghanistan in the international security assistance force without being part of Nato.
ALEX ORR
Bryson Road
Edinburgh While watching the "anti-war" demonstrators in Edinburgh on Saturday protesting at Nato's very existence, I wondered if there had ever been a greater irony.
Nato has delivered an unprecedented 60 years of peace to Europe. Nato in the post-war years prevented western Europe from being overrun by the then USSR, an event that would have had Saturday's demonstrators shipped off to the gulags to think their thoughts or, more likely, be permanently removed. Nato has given them their right to protest. It defies belief that the SNP, if given the opportunity, would take "their" Scotland out of this, the most successful peace-keeping organisation of all time.
ALEXANDER MCKAY
New Cut Rigg
Edinburgh 