It was inevitable that the “interventionists” would use the tragic slaughter in Aleppo to retrospectively justify David Cameron’s attempt to win a parliamentary vote to bomb Syria in 2013. The article by Kate Maltby (If you say ‘something must be done’ about Aleppo but opposed David Cameron when he tried to act, you have blood on your hands, 15 December) takes this argument to an absurd extreme. Given the support for the Assad regime from Iran and Russia does she really think a bombing campaign would have successfully removed him? Only a full invasion on the scale of the invasion of Iraq could have achieved that against major opposition from Iran and Russia. Even if this were successful what would Syria be like today? How many children would be crying our names?

Graham Mustin

Leeds

Be careful what you wish for

You report (Anti-ageing breakthrough: Reprogramming the body could extend lifespan, say scientists, 16 December) that Professor Belmonte and his team at the Salk Institute, in the US, have developed a means, using stem cells, of extending the life of mice by 30 per cent without the concomitant risk of tumour growth. The suggestion is that this technique could eventually be used to extend human life.

In a world where population growth is one of the many threats to the survival of our species the ability to extend human life is not good news.

In addition, senile dementia is possibly the greatest fear of most people (far more than physical life threatening conditions) as they approach old age. Unless Belmonte can guarantee that his technique will also regenerate the brain, I, for one, will not be in the queue to avail myself of the fruits of his research.

Patrick Cleary

Devon

Can we have the bill please?

Just because a man’s suit is less showy than a pair of leather trousers worn by a women doesn’t make it less of an anti-austerity statement. I’m sure that many male members of parliament are wearing suits costing in excess of £2,000. Let’s see the wardrobe bills for all the ministers.

Dennis Baum

London

Not on time, for a very long time

I don’t have the vocabulary to articulate my frustration with the staff and management of Southern Rail, by whom my working life is held hostage.

However, the issue seems to be nearly 140 years old.

Michael Haynes

London

A Power-ful speech

I read your comment piece (It was bizarre to watch Samantha Power at the UN conveniently forget to mention all the massacres done in America's name, Robert Fisk, 16 December) about Ambassador Power's rhetoric. I can’t say that I fully disagree but I can’t say that I concur with your article.

I agree that the US conveniently left out what they did in regards to transnational conflicts in the Middle East. But I don’t agree with people calling out her out for it. The UNSC is – despite being a non-partisan organisation affiliated with the UN – a highly political organisation. And politics always comes with dilemmas and hard choices and in the end you have to make the right choice.

And I don’t think that Power’s current rhetoric can justify all of the past instances, but for the imminent humanitarian crisis, it certainly makes an impact and it sends a rude awakening call to the nations that do not listen.

Also, by tearing down the US with “hypocrisy” claims – no matter how true they may be – only fuels Russia, Iran, and the Assad regime because they will use every resource available to justify the status quo. I simply do not see the point of arguing about who the bad guy is when people are dying.

Gayoung Kim