NO matter how effective or ineffective UN inspectors may be within Iraq, any weapons and other materials for weapons development found by inspectors would prove much of America's claims.

It may silence dissenting voices, reduce much of the criticism that the Bush administration is getting around the world, and possibly even calm the tension so evident within the Middle East.

Why, therefore, is America now trying to block weapons inspectors entering Iraq, preferring military action that could plunge the Middle East into total war?

Could it be that America fears, or knows, that no evidence will ever be found to support its claims? - HE Smith, Spennymoor.

BRITAIN must continue to support our American cousins should they decide to go to war with Iraq.

Public opinion is swaying in favour of getting rid of the lunatic dictator Saddam Hussein after President Bush's speech to the UN. - Christopher Wardell, Darlington.

WOULDN'T it be nice if Mr Bush concentrated more on the real reason for poorer countries' grievances against the affluent West: lack of clean water, sanitation and food? We cannot hope to trade with these poorer nations until their standards of living are much better. - F Atkinson, Shincliffe.

PRESIDENT Bush yet again displays breathtaking double standards in his comments on Iraq. He says Iraq has flouted UN resolutions for 11 years. So has Israel.

He says Iraq will not allow UN people into Iraq because it has something to hide. Israel would not allow the UN into the Jenin refugee camp - did it have something to hide?

Why should we respect a man so intellectually feeble?

It appears that Tony Blair is so mesmerised by George Bush that he simply fails to realise how dangerous the situation is for our country. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.

SAFEWAY STORE

IT is time for Darlington Council to reconsider its planning strategy for local businesses.

It appears the council and ratepayers are reaping the rewards of a lack of planning support to Safeway when this company wished to redevelop its Victoria Road site.

The planning application was rejected by the council, so the company has taken alternative steps, namely closing down its town centre shop and its crche.

We the townsfolk seem to be the losers. Nice one cabinet councillors. - Charles Johnson, Darlington.

EXAM RESULTS

ONCE again, the incompetence of the three English exam boards has been exposed for all to see.

It is unlikely enough that a candidate who has achieved grade A in all other modules can submit coursework deemed to be of a standard worthy of a D or an E grade. However, it must be almost impossible for a straight A candidate to submit coursework deemed unworthy of even the lowest pass.

Therefore, it is unsurprising that public confidence in our examination system is destroyed when such a situation affects a significant number of students at a number of schools across the country.

All the evidence suggests that boards have deliberately downgraded work worthy of higher grades to avoid negative publicity about exam standards.

However, it is nothing short of scandalous that the QCA, the body whose raison d'tre is to maintain standards of academic achievement, should seek to ignore such a crisis by presenting an illogical and transparent report into the situation.

Universities, schools, and, most importantly, pupils are suffering the consequences of incompetent handling of the new curriculum.

Until we have the exam system run by one board, where all candidates take the same examinations in the same subjects, and we have a clear and transparent marking system that can be understood by all, public confidence will never be restored in A-levels. - Kenneth Owen, Darlington.

DISTRICT NURSES

IT was good to see a photograph of Jessie Young (Echo, Sept 23).

She is one of life's special people, she was a wonderful district nurse. The many mothers whose babies she delivered will always remember how efficient and caring she was.

She was an excellent gardener too, and was a familiar sight in Wolsingham pushing a wheelbarrow to attend the rose bushes she planted and they still flourish and continue to bring pleasure and memories. - Isobel Lister, Wolsingham.

EC REFORM

A REPORT by leading forensic accountant Christopher J Arkell on the European Union's accounting scandal is absolutely damning.

The main conclusion is that the 'system' of accounts is itself fraudulent. It is worse than a system (like Enron's) which is open to abuse - the EC's system generates abuse. The 'system' can, as described recently by Marta Andreason (removed by Neil Kinnock), never comply with International Accepted Accounting Standards, on the UK generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

If the 'system' were used by UK taxpayers in their self-employed businesses for producing accounts from which they calculated their tax, the Inland Revenue would prosecute them for fraud!

And we continue to be led blindly into further 'integration' with this corrupt organisation led by our spineless, ineffectual politicians.

But, more and more people are wakening up to the EU. Let us be well clear when the whole thing falls. - Neil Herron, Sunderland.