THE present conflict in Iraq is the direct result of President George Bush’s determination to invade.

When Saddam Hussein was ousted from Kuwait he was still capable of controlling the various feuding factions in Iraq and, had he been left to do so, the present chaos might well have been avoided. The repercussions coming from such a disastrous and mistaken decision will be endless.

Douglas Punchard, Helmsley.

PHILIP HAMMOND, our new Foreign Secretary, says that the beheading of the American reporter James Foley was an act of “appalling brutality” (Echo, Aug 22).

Absolutely right, but what does he say about the unspeakable barbarity by Israel in Gaza?

If ever a man should be taken to the Hague and charged with multiple crimes against humanity it is the Benjamin Netanyahu, the current Prime Minister of Israel.

The sickening hypocrisy of pro- Israel politicians is beyond the pale.

However Israel will pay and is paying the price for Gaza.

It is seen as a pariah state wholly financed by the US, its co-conspirator in the wholesale murder of innocent women and children.

Hugh Pender, Darlington.

DAVID LEONARD writes that he finds it very difficult to understand how I can compare the actions of Hamas to the barbarism of Israel (HAS, Aug 22).

Could I say that, in my opinion, if Hamas orders innocent women and children to stay in their homes in the full knowledge that they will be in the direct line of fire from the Israeli response to their rocket attacks, then Hamas are as guilty as Israel to the death toll.

If Mr Leonard thinks that this is an acceptable practice by Hamas, then that’s a matter for him.

Kevin Mcstravick, Darlington.