AUSTRALIA screams long and hard when foreigners break the law here.

In recent days it has been revealed that diplomats in Canberra are getting away with speeding, drink driving, etc, and the chorus has been "they must obey and respect Australian law".

The Sixty Minutes program has broken the law in Beirut. They went into a kidnapping scenario with eyes wide open - a deliberate breaking of the law in another country.

Everyone involved is compliant regardless of the circumstances.

Channel 9 and other large media outlets thumb their nose at the law.

This is likely to cause a major international scandal.

What the hell were they thinking by getting involved with an international kidnapping agency?

The law is the law and must be obeyed in this country or overseas - end of story.

ROBERT McBEATH Raceview

OPINION: Letters to the Editor

• Write to The Queensland Times, PO Box 260, Ipswich, Qld 4305 or email letters@qt.com.au Please include your name, address abd a daytime telephone number for verification.

• You can SMS your views on 0428 634 025. You must start your text QT and include your name and suburb.