End Guantanamo misery

Readers' letters also discuss vegetarians, internet broadband prices, human trafficking and others.

Those detained at the Guantanamo prison camp deserve prompt fair trials, a reader says. Deborah Gembara / Reuters

In A flexible feast (January 11) your journalist asks asks "what do you call a vegetarian who occasionally tucks into a steak or sometimes adds smoked salmon to a cream cheese bagel?".

Well, the answer is clearly not "vegetarian".

Defining someone as "a vegetarian who occasionally eats meat" is an insult to the hundreds of millions of people over the world who are vegetarian for religious or ethical purposes.

Personally, I haven't eaten meat for more than 20 years, yet would never describe myself as vegetarian, since I regularly consume fish and seafood.

You want to eat meat? Fine. You have made a choice to be vegetarian? No problem. But don't call yourself a vegetarian and then tuck into the all-the-meat-you-can-eat buffet. It's meaningless at best and hypocritical at worst.

Sarah Bartlett, Abu Dhabi

Give Guantanamo inmates fair trials

I refer to Ten years of the jail no one wants but no one can shut down (January 12).

I believe that detainees jailed at the US base at Guantanamo should be given fair trials somewhere in the world and should be subject to penalty if found guilty of links to Al Qaeda or the Taliban.

Otherwise the US cannot explain why this detention camp remains operational indefinitely.

Ayse Arzu Caglayan, Turkey

Waiting for lower internet prices

It is surely good news that the world's network of internet connections, including the UAE's share of it, is growing bigger and thicker (Better value internet link on the way, January 11). Redundant capacity will make it less likely that an accident or terrorist action can interrupt service.

But permit me to express a little scepticism about the idea that prices for broadband may decline in this country. Frankly I do not see much competition in this sector, and so I will believe in lower prices only when I see them.

Wayne MacPherson, Abu Dhabi

Step up fight against trafficking

I refer to Knowledge of human trafficking 'very basic' (January 12). The commercial trade in human beings does not affect a very large proportion of many of the UAE's residents.

But this crime is so horrendous, so out of keeping with the spirit of our modern age, that everyone should care, even if there are only a few cases a year.

I commend the authorities for working to increase public awareness, which will help to bring human traffickers to justice.

Susanne Haddad, Abu Dhabi

Real Dickens fans know the ending

In Changing an ending is not the end of the world (or hardly ever) (January 12), the writer says that "seasoned Charles Dickens fans were probably waiting for the grimly bleak ending in which Pip finally finds his lifelong crush Estella again, only to find she has married a country doctor."

Considering that this was the ending that Dickens scrapped, no, they probably weren't. The ending he actually published was quite different.

Gina Dalfonzo, US

Innovation story was welcome

The column Building a state of innovation while a political one waits (January 12) was full of interesting and encouraging bits of news about what is being accomplished by Palestinians, despite all their difficulties.

Please give us more of this kind of news.

Khalid Halabi, Dubai

Tottenham could upset favourites

I agree that Tottenham could win the league (Harry Redknapp: Tottenham believe they can win Premier League title, January 12).

Man City have been knocked out of the Champions League and the FA Cup. Chances are they will shortly be eliminated from the Carling Cup.

Their two first-choice central defenders are out for a month and the team's performances have definitely tailed away of late.

Don't be surprised if they get the jitters in the league. Manchester United are having injury problems at the moment, particularly in defence.

Up front Hernandez isn't really firing and they still seem hesitant to replace him with Berbatov, who always seems to score. Unusually for Tottenham, their defence has been one of their strong points this season. They have the best midfield in the league and their strikers are performing well. There is a long way to go, but yes, they could win the league. No doubt.

Ben Deane-Johns, UK