I refer to MGG Pillai's article entitled The clash of fundamentalisms .

While I appreciate the writer's experience as a war reporter in Vietnam and his attempt to share it with us, I find that he somehow dangerously oversimplifies the world by suggesting that '... in Vietnam, the backdrop was the Cold War, a proxy war between the free world and communism; in Iraq, of Islam and Christianity".

Whether we support or oppose it, the US-led war against the Baathist regime in Iraq had nothing to do with religion whatsoever for the following reasons, which are clear to all those who acknowledge the following factual truths:

Officially, both the Roman Catholic church and the Anglican church are opposed to the war;

The war was in effect supported by some Muslim countries such as Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, which allowed the US-led Coalition forces to base and stage their military personnel and equipment;

Stating these two clear facts, does not, however, mean that no Christians supported the war. Yes, there are Christians who supported the war, but not as a religious war of Christianity against Islam as such.

They supported it as individuals on other grounds, such as concerns for international security and Saddam Hussein's record of atrocities against the Kurds, Shia and other dissidents. On these grounds, many people of other faiths or without religions also supported the war.

I hope that Pillai and other writers will be more careful and discreet next time when drawing comparisons to show greater respect to fundamental facts and realities.

Mature and prudent judgement can only be made on the basis of verifiable facts, not one's pre- conceived likes or dislikes or ideological blinkers.