IRAQ: THE abuse of detainees at American prison camps, we are told, is the work of rogue elements within America's armed forces.

Yet, not only is there increasing evidence that these atrocities began in the American camps in Afghanistan, but that these soldiers were acting under orders, whose responsibility may go all the way up to Donald Rumsfeld.

What people are forgetting is that, prior to invading Afghanistan, President Bush demanded and got from the UN, immunity from prosecution for himself and those under his command for any and all atrocities committed by American forces. If memory serves, a similar immunity was demanded and obtained prior to invading Iraq.

But if, as is claimed, the blame does rest with rogue elements within America's armed forces, why was Bush's demand for immunity from prosecution for atrocities by those under his command, followed by actual atrocities against prisoners by American troops claiming to be acting under orders? Is this pure coincidence or Bush merely protecting himself as these abuses were part of the plan? - HE Smith, Spennymoor.

HOSPITAL SERVICES

I READ with utter dismay about the baby who died en route to another hospital.

I have, along with other groups, been attending reviews organised by the County Durham and Tees Valley Strategic Health Authority about this new system of changing into Primary Care Hospitals the current Hartlepool and North Tees Hospitals, and having only two main hospitals, the present South Tees and another proposed at Wynyard, to cover North Tees.

At these meetings many spoke out against the proposals, quoting the very problem that caused the death of that baby: journeys between the primary care facilities and the main hospitals.

At all times various speakers assured us that this was to them a minor problem easily solved and this new system would only benefit and improve patient care.

I personally know of three elderly patients who suffered these transfers. And yet we are being sold these proposals as an improvement in patient care.

This isolation of hospital care, as this baby's death proves, affects all ages and was one tragedy too many, which proves this system is more to do with money than patient care. - Mrs Shelagh Harnby, Stockton-on-Tees.

EUROPE

DURING the run-up to the European Parliamentary elections many people have asked: "What do our European MPs do?"

There is an extensive lack of knowledge about politics in general but, the further away the issue, the greater is the lack of understanding.

This is a matter of concern because democracy can only work if we, the public, make it work.

The legislation that is passed in the European Parliament is for the benefit of all Europeans, including us. Many people will have seen television programmes exposing time-share scams. We own the largest number of time-share packages but it is only by having Europe-wide laws that everyone can be protected from those who would defraud us.

Across Europe, but particularly in Britain, there has been a long working hours culture that has serious effects on health and family life. The working time law means that workers themselves can decide to work longer hours than those laid down in the law, but they cannot be forced to do so.

The European Union's 'Everything but Arms' initiative allows all products from the very poorest countries to enter European markets quota free.

It is through the conscientious work of our Euro MPs on such issues that the world is made a better place for us to live in. It is worth reminding ourselves that this could not be achieved if we had to act independently. We need to protect our democracy and we can do that by voting in the European election. - Bill Morehead, Darlington.

THE increase in EU official languages from 11 to 20 following EU enlargement is proving to be a headache for the translation services of the EU, which are increasing their backlog of work by 3,000 pages a week.

The considerable delay in translation means there is a risk of the system collapsing as translators find they are unable to cope with the amount of increased work, as we forecast some weeks ago.

Commission vice-president Neil Kinnock has reportedly proposed to his colleagues that, in the future, a substantial part of the official documents will not be translated into all EU official languages but, instead, these texts will be available in all the languages in the form of a summary of around 15 pages.

This complete and utter shambles is the way you are now governed. Neither transparent, accountable nor accessible. Paid for by you and an offensive insult to democracy.

Our membership of the EU is over £30m a day, which could be far better spent.

If we had been told all of this in 1975 do you think there would have been a Yes vote in the 'Common Market' referendum?

You can deliver a loud and clear message to the major political parties who neither speak out or expose this circus.

Use your vote in the European elections. - Neil Herron, Independent, European Elections.

DARLINGTON FC

I WOULD like to thank David Hodgson for all the hard work that he has put into Darlington Football Club since he returned to save us from the dreaded drop into non-league obscurity.

Without his managerial skills and contacts, we could well be finished.

I would like to see the local council reward his efforts by giving him the Freemanship of the Borough of Darlington.

This town would be a ghost town without a professional football club, and councillors must now realise this and allow other non-footballing events to be held at the Neasham Road stadium, to contribute to the financial wellbeing of the club.

The last five years have been hell at DFC, and I would like to urge my fellow townsfolk to get behind the club and support them in larger numbers next season.

That way Mr Hodgson will have more money at his disposal to bring in quality players. - Christopher Wardell, Darlington.

ROAD SAFETY

I CAN only assume that Mr McKimm (HAS, May 16) doesn't live on a main road with constant, speeding traffic.

I live on the main A68 trunk road leading to Scotland and, not only do we have locals who treat our road like a racetrack, but we also have police vehicles using us as a high-speed training route and through traffic heading north.

I would gladly welcome as many speed cameras as it takes for people to realise that people live on these routes.

Our children have no choice but to use footpaths either side of this road to get to school and to go out to play. Would the speeders like me to take my car to their roads and fly past doing 45-50mph plus?

It's about time people showed more consideration. Four children have been hit by cars in six months in our parish alone. This is totally unacceptable.

I would love to overhaul the current system as Durham Police are so far behind the rest of the country in trying curb speeds and protect our kids. - Miss BE Smith, Toft Hill, Bishop Auckland.