30/10/04

He said: "We should be failing in our duty to our allies ...etc."

Duty, according to the dictionary, is a moral or legal obligation and the behaviour due to a superior.

So now we know what the famous "special relationship" really means. - C Christie, Helmsley.

I HOPE my fellow Scottish expats, who normally support Labour at election time, will bear in mind that our Prime Minister is going to throw our Black Watch compatriots into a situation where conceivably many lives will be at risk and possibly lost.

Tony Blair has not the slightest interest in the families of these servicemen, though he tries to give the impression he really cares.

He and his party are not to be trusted any longer to look after British interests.

Tony Blair has no regrets about Iraq and says he would do the same again should similar circumstances arise. - Peter Johnston, Darlington.

WITH all the horrors of kidnappings, beheadings and torture, plus the destruction of homes and families, post invasion of Iraq, sight should not be lost of where the real blame lies for this whole tawdry mess.

Many of the innocent men, women and children who have died or been maimed under the rubble of their homes and on the streets, by military action or planted bombs, would still be living and uninjured under the former regime, though still having to be mindful of any outspoken criticism of Saddam and the punishment for such.

He is guilty of atrocities. This has been proved by the finding of buried human remains and the killing of Kurds in the north, so there is no doubt that he was a ruthless monster.

Idi Amin was also guilty of mass murder and so too was Pinochet in Chile. They too were monsters, and the oppressors of people in Central and South America come into the same category and some of these were backed by the US.

Selective choice of who is a monster and who is not seems to have been an ongoing pastime in the Pentagon, and in the general political police of the west.

So the hyped up talk of ridding the world of Saddam as an excuse for the invasion, when half-baked theories of him having WMD proved false, is lame and will not wash.

The invasion of Iraq has done nothing but create a hell within a hell. - GH Grieveson, Richmond.

MP'S EXPENSES

AT long last the claim of fair and open government is being given a degree of respectability.

I refer to the recent announcement that MPs are to divulge the full amount each receives in allowances and expenses.

In accordance with the maxim of those with nothing to hide have nothing to fear, there can't be any reason whatsoever why this procedure is not made standard ruling for local government.

Value for money is an integral part of good management, let it be shown that we are receiving it.

Those that pay the piper have every right to call the tune. - AW Dunn, Spennymoor.

REGIONAL ASSEMBLY

THE Yes campaign's Ray Mallon had nothing of substance to say on TV recently. When he was debating with Graham Robb and John Elliott all he could come up with were wish lists and an advert for his Mayor's role.

The No side based all their arguments on the facts in the Government's Bill. The thing I have in common with Mr Mallon is that I haven't read the Bill, but I'm grateful at least one side of the debate has done and is telling us what it contains.

I ask will it cost us more? Both sides agree it will. Will it have self-important politicians like Scotland and Wales? Yes it will. Will the Government still control the policies? Yes it will. Couldn't our MPs speak up for the region? Yes they can, but they don't.

So far the No side might have some daft stunts but they are the only ones who have taken this debate seriously. If the vote is yes we'll be stuck with this white elephant for years, if the answer is no the Government will be forced to think again and offer some alternatives. - Evelyn Machin, Darlington.

I AM one of your several readers who have queried the role and purpose of our duly elected Members of Parliament and their contribution to the needs of our region.

One can argue that if they had done their job effectively in the past there would be no need for another body to look after our affairs.

I find it hard to understand how a regional assembly can have any more powers than our Members of Parliament who, after all, are in the centre of decision making and indeed have had several influential people in Cabinet itself over many years. - D Wearmouth, Shildon.

ARE Peter Sotheran (HAS, Oct 13) and I the only ones who remember what happened 35 years ago? The same unification that took place in Middlesbrough, Stockton etc also happened in Darlington.

I well remember working several Sundays as a joiner in Darlington town hall, converting large offices into small offices to accommodate a new layer of government officers, each with their own little empires. This was all paid for at the ratepayers' expense.

This new proposed regional assembly for me is a blast from the past, only on a much larger and more expensive scale. Of course, all these high profile North-East politicians, sporting celebrities etc want a regional assembly. Jobs for the boys, isn't it called?

Lately, these high profile people have been targeting the young people, trying to convince them that a regional assembly is the answer to all our prayers.

Remember, you young people are the council and income tax payers of tomorrow. Do not be fooled into thinking that a regional assembly is the be all and end all of everything. What it will be is an expensive talking shop for a new tier of bureaucrats with no teeth.

In 35 years time or less you will be saying about the regional assembly what I was saying all those years ago about the council unification: "what a waste of money". Please let common sense prevail. - Cyril Humphrey, Bishop Auckland.