EUROPE: WITH the local elections out of the way, and with the armed forces chief of staff warning that we lack the capacity for another war for two years, the next big isue is the euro.

On this a referendum has been promised.

I am not convinced that the five economic tests can be anything more than a snapshot picture of where we compare with the eurozone at a particular time.

If we do go in there can be no certainty how it will work out. I think that the companies who are for it take that view because a good deal of international trade is now in euros. For us to be in the eurozone would make transactions more manageable.

In the final analysis the decision will be based on political sentiment. The Prime Minister has made matters more difficult for himself, if his ambitions are in Europe, by getting out of step with the major European players in his bid to be George Bush's buddy.

I feel as European as I do British. I readily admit that from the point of view of this country's economic interest, there is not an overwhelming case.

Those whose future depends upon being part of the whole European package and how it is likely to develop will have set themselves a difficult to impossible task winning opinion round to their point of view. - Geoffrey Bulmer, Billingham.

HEALTH SERVICE

LAST week, I had to call an ambulance to be rushed to A&E at the University Hospital of North Durham.

I had to wait three hours in a treatment room before anyone could attend to me - just about the worst three hours of my life.

But while I waited I could hear some of the other people being dealt with who, for all my pain, were in a worst state than I was.

My wife and I watched nurses, dead on their feet, at the end of too long a shift, go up to a treatment room, straighten their backs and push open the door with a bright smile and a cheery, caring greeting. How they do it I cannot guess.

So, when you are tempted to moan at the time you have to wait, don't blame the wonderful staff.

Put the blame where it belongs: on politicians who promise and promise, but never deliver; who can find money to slaughter and maim innocent Iraqis, but not to heal their own people; and, of course, on the PFI contractor "fat cats" who profit from our suffering. - Stafford Scholes, Esh Winning.

MIDDLE EAST

FOR years the Israelis have been oppressing and killing Palestinians, many of them women and children.

Protected by a corrupt US administration, the Israelis more or less do what they like and ignore the feeble protests of countries like ourselves.

But when the Palestinians retaliate with a few suicide bombers the Western media is hysterically condemnatory of such action.

I do not condone suicide bombers, but neither do I condone thousands of civilians murdered from 35,000 feet by "brave" airmen.

Recently, the Americans have killed women and children in Iraq in "self defence".

Now we have to endure the sickening experience of Bush and Rumsfeld crowing over their "victory".

American soldiers stood by and watched the Baghdad museum and library looted and burned, no doubt laughing up their sleeves.

These are the people Mr Blair has chosen to associate himself and our country with and the day he leaves office with his discredited cronies will be a happy day for me and millions of others who have seen our nation dragged through the mud. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.

HUGH Pender is surely right to prompt Labour to dismiss Tony Blair (HAS, Apr 29). The Prime Minister's decision to wade through his own self-created blood bath to Easter 2003 should be too much for any individual to stomach. Mr Blair has introduced a new and callous sport, Recreational Killing ie:

1. Choose any smaller nation with an evil and unpopular dictator;

2. "Demonise" all of its civilian population as if they all supported that dictator;

3. Mass-bomb its capital city, creating death, bereavement and grotesque disablement;

4. Forget the consequences.

5. Preen yourself for the next vain and conceited speech.

Mr Blair has treated the Iraqis - our fellow human beings - worse than cornered foxes.

Does such a man really represent all that is wise and humane in the nations of the UK? Unless he does, why keep him in office for a day longer? - E Turnbull, Gosforth.

SUNDERLAND FC

IT is good of Tore Andre Flo to pledge his future to Sunderland.

The good turns started when Peter Reid paid Rangers £8.2m for this player and continued when Reid decided to pay the colossal wage of £40,000 a week. This wage is exorbitant for a player who is only sixth choice striker at the club. In fact, this wage is exorbitant for any player at the club.

Flo has decided to stay at Sunderland - not because of the money - but because he does not wish to disrupt his family.

There are sceptics who say that he is staying at the club because nobody is daft enough to buy him, unless Peter Reid wants him at Leeds, we hope.

But it is an ill wind, etc., because my best friend is delighted that Flo is staying at Sunderland. My best friend is a Newcastle supporter. - Jim Baker, Peterlee.