THE Argus ‘Our Say’ column (Argus Nov 21) describes the Russian court decision of granting bail to the Greenpeace activists as one of common sense, I think ‘manipulation’ might be more apt.

According to the Daily Mail their passports have been retained by the security services and they cannot leave the country. The ensuing publicity bandwagon that has managed to rope in ex-Beatle Sir Paul McCartney, Plaid Cymru AM Lindsay Whittle and other assorted ‘wannabe’ rescuers won’t have done that much harm to Russian interests in the Arctic.

Other activists could well be put off at the thought of enjoying the luxuries of that country’s prison system, probably pay more attention to disrupting the oil-rigs of ‘friendlier’ nations and may leave the Russians to carry on drilling undisturbed.

Have these protestors and their supporters been rather naive and played into Russian hands? They are tangling with a nation that plays a lot of chess, and let’s not forget, is very good at it.

Mr A Greenhalgh Ross Street Newport