As an ex-Serviceman, and a Maltese expatriate, I am somewhat surprised by the fact that it had to be a country's own ambassador who had to write in to a newspaper to drum up some public interest on the Italian Military Mission's (MIATM) goings-on in their daily working liaison with the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) (TMID 4 August 2009).

Following, from afar here in the United States, the local media coverage of military events, or those related to their various operations and training, it is more than obvious that the AFM have improved the Maltese public's perception of the service in recent years. And this is no easy or quick fix effort or initiative that depends, no doubt, on the AFM soldiers' own hard work.

What baffles me though, is how the MIATM had to resort to using diplomatic channels for due exposure of their continued valid presence in Malta. It can't be said they are low profile, with daily over-flights between rescues, SAR or flight cross-training, and navigational exercises. Understandably, they too have a public-relations officer that works in close collaboration with his AFM counterpart on that side of the house.

So, I am of the opinion that diplomats ought to limit themselves to their realm's job, not blowing somebody else's trumpet!

Joe Sammut

Boise`, Idaho, US