29/03/04

Has it advanced our chances of winning the War on Terror - the reason George Bush and Tony Blair gave for toppling Saddam?

Few, except for diehards in the Pentagon, would say it has. Most would take the view that it has advanced the cause of bin Laden, Middle Eastern terrorism and Islamic religious fundamentalism.

Worse, it has created a dangerous new theatre for the terrorists to display their bloody arts.

Politicians who supported the war - and that includes the Conservatives and their leader - pretend the invasion was imperative if the world was to be freed from the barbarism unleashed by bin Laden and his imitators.

That is why the Spanish are being given so much stick by President Bush and his sidekicks and why, disgracefully, Michael Howard makes veiled references to the "moral cowardice" of changing foreign policy.

A year later, the opponents have been proved tragically right. The invasion of Iraq was an irrelevance and a desperately dangerous irrelevance at that.

It has strengthened bin Laden's resolve. It has given fresh impetus to the cause of those who would fuel their fanatical hatred of the United States by murdering innocent civilians. It has shown terrorism can change governments.

Not because the people are cowards. But because their rulers made a hideous mistake, the consequences of which were to make our world a madder, sadder, more evil and more frightening place to live.

When that happens, the people are right to put the mistake right. Especially if their leaders lack the moral courage to do so themselves. - DT Murray, Coxhoe

I REALLY feel I should give support to Pete Winstanley, who so often reflects my own views on the problems in the Middle East.

Indeed Shimon Perez, the Israeli leader of the opposition, says exactly the same thing - by all means oppose terrorism but it must go hand in hand with a deeper understanding of the Muslim people.

Large tracts of Palestinian land has been occupied by Israel for almost 40 years.

Israel has repeatedly flouted international law and ignored UN resolutions without fear of punishment, protected by its paymasters, the USA.

The Israeli army fires bullets at teenagers throwing stones.

Israel has at its disposal helicopter gunships, missiles, tanks and a huge army.

The Palestinians have a few gunmen and the occasional suicide bomber.

Unfortunately until there is change of government in Israel and the USA nothing will change and innocent people in both countries will be killed.

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been a disaster and worse is yet to come. So where do we go from here?

Although the problems in Northern Ireland are far from over the situation is far better than it was because we were prepared to talk to people we once considered to be terrorists.

Something similar has to be promoted in the Middle East for any progress to be made. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.

COUNCIL TAX

NOW that we know what our poll tax figures are (sorry, that should be council tax figures) and that Tony Blair not Maggie Thatcher has given us, in Trimdon, the highest in the land, why can't we have mass protests across the land the same as when this was called a poll tax?

Let's face it, if it was wrong when Maggie did it, it must be wrong now.

And please don't come back with pits being closed because, as I have said before, the closure of pits and the run-down of the railways was started under Harold Wilson. If you don't believe me ask those people who went from Durham to Doncaster and even to Wales. - Peter Brown, Trimdon Village.

MY council tax statement has arrived today and shows an increase of 9.7 per cent.

Why is it that Darlington Borough Council continues to get its sums wrong and has to ask for increases which are nearly six times the cost of living index?

I am not retired, nor am I a pensioner, but my sympathies are with those who are, and my support is for those who are prepared to face a custodial sentence for offering to pay a fair increase and what they can afford.

This increase is unfair and unrealistic, but the people who set it will not notice the unfortunates who pay up at the cost of forfeiting some small luxury or a small necessity.

Fiscal accounting always has been and always will be trial and error - in some cases big error - until we change and start looking at running costs, waste, unrealistic expenses, best value for money, competitive tendering and a realistic look at those who can pay according to their income as well as those who have a fixed income which increases considerably less than 9.7 per cent per annum. - D Marshall, Darlington.

HEALTH SERVICE

IT is almost beyond belief that a brain surgeon at Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre was suspended for allegedly taking an extra helping of croutons. This is a clear demonstration that the hospital officials are in urgent need of his professional services. - L Lewis, Bishop Auckland.

EURO

THE enthusiasm for the euro expressed by Mr Morehead (HAS, Mar 18) alas does not equate with the real impact, on real lives, on those countries now saddled with it.

Supposedly the fact that the entire eurozone is mired in sclerotic bureaucracy, permanent zero growth, and rampant high unemployment is of minor consequence, and deserves not a mention.

Also unexplained is the fact that every EU country that has adopted the euro has had it imposed upon them, and where referenda have been called - in Sweden and Denmark (twice) - there has been rejection of giving up national currencies.

Europhiles continually try to present the euro as an economic option whereas it always was intended as a weapon in the cause of European political integration.

Perhaps if europhiles defended their case with honest argument they might gain credibility. The categoric refusal to do so is why they generate contempt, and, assured, ultimate failure. Our most opportune exit from the EU is the path to continued economic stability and growth. - Dave Pascoe, Press Secretary, Hartlepool Branch, UK Independence Party.