With the recent illegal invasion of Georgia by Russia and the subsequent slaughter of innocent civilians, the silence from the so-called anti-war lobby is deafening.

Where are the thousands of people who marched through major cities the length and breath of the UK to protest against the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan?

In Northern Ireland, where are all the ‘anti-war' protesters who came out in force during the visit of President Bush?

And where are the cries of condemnation from human rights groups such as Liberty?

The ‘anti-war' lobby seem to pick and choose which group of innocent civilians that find themselves on the end of a murderous onslaught they're going to give a voice to.

Don’t be fooled by their protests over the war in Iraq and Afganistan. This was more to do with their hatred of America and, in particular, George Bush, than it was about their concern for the innocent lives lost in the aforementioned countries.

If anything, their silence over the slaughter of innocent lives in Georgia just goes to prove that point even more.

The ‘anti-war' lobby seem to have no problem making their feelings known to President Bush with regards to America's invasion of Iraq and Afganistan, so why doesn’t the same apply with regards to Russia's invasion of Georgia?

Surely it would send out a powerful message to the Russian authorities that the people of the UK strongly oppose their murderous onslaught of Georgia?

In the days surrounding the 10th anniversary of the Omagh bomb, I ask another question: where, in the aftermath of the tragic events in Omagh, were the Northern Irish ‘anti-war’ lobby who had no problem turning out in numbers to vent their anger during the visit of President Bush?

Twenty-nine innocent people were massacred that fateful day as part of a so-called war, yet I can’t remember a protest of any significance.

The innocent lives lost in Omagh and Georgia obviously aren't as precious to the ‘anti-war’ lobby as lives lost in Iraq and Afghanistan. But then again, they couldn’t use them to make their own selfish political point.

Wilson Fitzgerald

Belfast