Re: A Continuance Of Fear-Mongering, Letter To The Editor, July 28.

Dr. Nudrat Ahmed seems to have completely missed David Harris's point. Mr. Harris was simply stating that, in addition to targeting moderate Muslims, Islamist extremists pose a serious threat to liberal, democratic Western countries. That such a threat is real is perfectly obvious from the terrorist attacks in the United States, Britain and Spain, as well as attempted attacks in Canada.

Just what Dr. Ahmed expects to accomplish by denying these facts is not clear. It would appear that he hopes to convince us either that we should blissfully ignore the presence of such threats or that only an anti-Muslim bigot would have the audacity to point this out. Who does he think he's kidding?

Martin Collacott, former Canadian ambassador to Syria and Lebanon, Vancouver.