FIRE SERVICE: IN response to the letter from Jim Baker (HAS, June 2) regarding the firefighters' dispute, it never fails to amaze me how ill informed some people are and they really shouldn't put pen to paper until they are fully aware what exactly is going on before blurting out a whole load of rubbish.

I am a long serving firefighter and it's quite sad to know just how little we are appreciated by some members of the public.

He claims that our 16 per cent pay award is outrageous. Does he realise that the 16 per cent is over three years and that it will have to be funded by job losses, which I and my colleagues fear will make for a worse fire service in the long run. Incidentally, firefighters have not had any pay award since 2001.

He talks about firefighters having second jobs, does he really think that they want to do second jobs? Many firefighters have to take a second job, just to meet the monthly bills. It's done out of necessity, not greed. In any case, what someone does in their off-duty time has nothing to with him or anyone else. As long as a firefighter is fit to do his job when required, that's all that matters.

It is patently obvious from the tone of Mr Baker's letter that he hasn't had the misfortune to have to call on the services of the Fire and Rescue Brigade. I sincerely hope that he never has to eat his words! - Ian Ferguson, Peterlee.

IRAQ

HISTORY and pre-history is rife with wars and conflicts caused by greed, hatred or the desire to impose one nation's culture and beliefs onto another.

All of which are justified before, during and after by the lies told by those deemed leaders.

Living in the 21st century, have we become so naive as to expect that, when a war does occur in which greed and the desire to force one nation's culture and beliefs onto another is a primary factor, lies will not be told by our leaders to justify such actions? - CT Riley, Spennymoor.

IF Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction there would be evidence to prove it. If, as Donald Rumsfeld suggests, they might have been destroyed before the invasion of Iraq, then logic states that there would likewise be evidence to support this.

In the case of the latter there is. During the first Gulf War, 11 per cent of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction were destroyed, 89 per cent were later destroyed by UN inspectors.

However, since the American government prefers to spend more on the military at the expensive of investment in education, the majority of Americans are not aware that this leaves Iraq with nought per cent weapons of mass destruction.

Equally, given George Bush's deep knowledge of matters geographical and global, could it be that Tony Blair's real role was to ensure that America's forces attacked Iraq and not Mexico? - HE Smith, Spennymoor.

NOW that the British and American forces have failed to locate any weapons of mass destruction, Tony Blair has lost patience and has flown off to Iraq. On his arrival he has taken off his jacket and has gone off to find the weapons for himself. After all, he constantly told us "and we know he has them" so surely they must be there; being so sure enabled him to start a war.

With the Iraqi people having demonstrated what terrific looters they are, should he not be looking under their beds? - Peter Scholey, Chester-le-Street.

THERE may have been weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, or not. Perhaps the Government deduces incorrectly.

However, what is certain is that we rid Iraq of a brutal dictator responsible for thousands of deaths of his own people.

Something for the protestors to think about.

Now let's do something for the starving people of Africa. - F Atkinson, Shincliffe.

ASYLUM SEEKERS

I STRONGLY agree with Christopher Wardell in his view of the Afghan and the Iraqi asylum seekers (HAS, May 31).

Now that their countries are liberated, they should all be sent back immediately.

If it was the Western world that was in so much turmoil, then would we see the Muslim world helping us out? I do not think so.

Let's deal with asylum now by closing the floodgates and sending back all the bogus refugees for starters.

Call me old fashioned, but I am a great believer that charity begins at home. - T Miller, Middleton-St-George.

EUROPE

THE Tories are desperate to gain points in the European debate with words like "superstate" and hoping a referendum would rule out the euro.

I would remind them, rather like the Dome, Europe was initially their idea.

If there is any referendum it could perhaps be about the exact meaning of the word sovereignty.

One way to reduce America's power would be to have a strong euro. Countries are beginning to replace dollars with euros as a reserve currency, because they see the potential. - Fred Atkinson, Shincliffe.