TERRORISM:FROM some recent correspondence you would think that, but for our operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, there would be no terrorist threat from the Middle East.

What is being forgotten here is that September 11 was before those operations, and that the best available intelligence then was that further such attacks were imminent. Their failure, by and large, to materialise might well be due to the Afghan and Iraq campaigns.

The fact is the present global crisis has been inevitable for centuries. There are certain politico-religious elements in, or associated with, the Middle East who have never forgiven us for the Crusades. Without its being viewed from this historical perspective, the present situation cannot be understood.

We, in the West, tend to have our priorities firmly grounded in 21st century reality. In supposing that everyone else is the same, we are deluding ourselves. - T Kelly, Crook.

POLITICIANS

N TATE (HAS, Mar 31) refers to MPs and presumably local councillors as only being interested in their own personal agenda, implying that they show little concern for the constituents of their local wards. How ridiculous this statement is.

The vast majority of councillors are conscientious and extremely active and aware of their elected responsibilities. I refer to my own Conservative group and would also include all my council colleagues. May I suggest that Mr Tate considers carefully before making such judgements, which have possibly been arrived at from a one-off experience.

Mr Tate should attend his ward surgery or one of the many special interest forums held each month. Better still, visit the Council Chamber, where the public are always welcome during council meetings.

I feel he should raise again any problems that he has with his local councillors and persevere to get satisfaction with the same deliberation that he has demonstrated with his many contributions to Hear All Sides. - Councillor Jim Ruck, Darlington.

EUROPE

GORDON Brown may have "kicked the euro decision into the long grass", but the issue hasn't gone away.

Over the last few years, the UK's share of foreign direct investment has shrunk from 27 per cent to eight per cent, half the level of France and Germany.

International business is voting with its feet. We're losing to existing EU members, to candidate countries and to Third World countries. There is precious little good news on the inward investment front now, or on the horizon.

The European Union will continue to have a massive impact on the economic prospects of this country, whether we sit on the sidelines and moan or get fully involved.

Its democratic process rolls on with the forthcoming elections for the European Parliament. Signs are that apathy will be the winner. For their own reasons, the political parties are playing the elections down.

Because of proportional representation both here and throughout the EU, the European Parliament is closer to a People's Parliament than winner-take-all Westminster.

So I urge people to make this election their own by insisting on a real debate on the issues. These include a single currency, a level playing field in trade, more power to the parliament, and a warm welcome to fellow Europeans when they join us for a better, more democratic and more secure future. - Robin Ashby, Director, North East in Europe.

WITH what unseemly haste Mr Blair is attempting to drag Britain deeper into the gaping maw of a federal EU by resurrecting the planned constitution (Echo, March 27).

Not satisfied with seizing global headlines by visiting Gadaffi and organising single-handedly the return of that pariah nation to the civilised world, he barely catches his breath before he's careering off to organise Europe!

This man is power mad. He seems to think the entire world should bow to his wishes on all this, totally regardless of what the people of this nation think or want.

He must have heard the sigh of relief that echoed round the country when the constitution was shelved. Now he is up to his old tricks. No relinquishment of sovereignty, he says. Don't you believe it.

Give us a referendum, Mr Blair. Stop crown hunting for yourself and really listen to the people you're supposed to serve, just for once in your life. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

THIS Government and other EU countries are shamelessly using the atrocities in Madrid as a smokescreen for steamrollering through an EU constitution which, once ratified, destroys the nation state and creates a United States of Europe.

Using this same culture of deceit, Mr Blair is now gearing up to introduce ID cards, using the exposures of the total fiasco of Labour's immigration and asylum policy as proof of their necessity. Of course, the Government will not allow little things like facts to get in the way as they barge through the legislation to introduce compulsory ID cards.

One key fact that certainly will be suppressed is that all of the countries that have suffered major terrorist atrocities - US, Turkey, Bali and Spain - already have ID cards, yet it did not prevent the deaths of thousands.

Could not the lack of political guts to reinforce immigration and asylum policies, together with the abandonment of border controls and a legal fraternity absolutely determined to protect the human rights of terrorists - not our rights, of course - be the causes of our feeling of insecurity, not the absence of a bit of plastic?

As a closing observation, who is willing to bet that any proposed UK ID cards will not, as several newspapers have suggested, bear a Union Jack symbol with the legend Citizen of the United Kingdom, but rather the blue and gold circle of the stars of the EU?

Knowing where Mr Blair's true loyalties lie, I suggest that the coming months could be very revealing. - Dave Pascoe, Press Secretary, UK Independence Party, Hartlepool Branch.

CHRISTIANITY

I OPENED my paper and, as a Christian, am disgusted at your recent supplement, The Dark Side. Why not a paper exalting the Light Side of this springtime? The death and resurrection of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and His ascension to Heaven, where he intercedes at the throne of Grace for each one of us?

He alone is worthy to be exalted, not this dark side. There is enough of all this occultism in our nation and area without advertising it in this way.

What an inheritance we are leaving for the children and the next generation. Where is the truth being taught or shown?

Reading other letters from Hear All Sides, there are many people who truly do care where this nation of ours is headed. - Betty Hopson, Witton Park.

GHOST STORIES

I am in the process of putting together an in-depth encyclopaedia of British ghosts and hauntings ever written. It would be excellent to hear the experiences and stories of readers, if they could e-mail me at stratoblaster3hotmail.com with not only stories of the local area, but nationwide as well.

- David Verney