14/03/03

The United Nations vote might well go against Messrs Bush and Blair but this will largely be the doing of France and Germany.

Everyone knows that France has vested interests in maintaining the status quo in Iraq, and Germany of course has hardly got a good reputation over the past few years to be sensitive now about possible loss of life should military activities begin.

Let Clare Short go Tony, she represents only a fraction of the population if recent public opinion polls are at all accurate. - Peter Johnston, Darlington.

THERE have been many letters about Iraq in Hear All Sides recently, but I wonder how many of your correspondents are in full possession of the relevant facts and how many letters are based on emotion.

It is my belief that this problem has been largely brought about by the ineffectiveness of the United Nations to enforce its own resolutions. We don't really know what weapons of mass destruction Saddam Hussein has nor do we know what he intends doing with any.

What we do know is that he is a brutal dictator who has massacred a large number of his fellow countrymen, women and children.

The question that arises is how far the United Nations Charter allows interference in the internal affairs of Iraq to prevent further brutality. If this is permissable then we should at the very least be sending in a United Nations force to deal with the situation; otherwise we shall just have to leave things as they are.

The split within the Western nations has played right in to Saddam Hussein's hands, who will see countries such as France and Germany, and even the United Nations itself, as supporting his loathsome regime. - P Elliott, Eaglescliffe.

NEARLY everyone I hear seems to be saying that the number of innocent people killed if the war against Iraq to try to remove Saddam Hussein from power goes ahead will probably be in the region of 300,000.

But I have never heard anyone estimating how many innocents would die if the US and Great Britain did not attack Iraq.

For instance, if Mr Bush and Mr Blair were to say that they were going to take all their soldiers out of Kuwait, plus all the other countries where they deploy peace keepers, and just let Saddam do what he likes, Iraq would once again invade Kuwait, probably massacring all Kuwaiti people for aiding the West. Then, as he grew stronger and obtained his nuclear capabilities, take over all the Middle East up to Israel where a nuclear war would kill millions.

North Korea would invade South Korea, probably killing thousands of innocents. Bosnia and Serbia would probably be at war again and al Qaida would return to Afghanistan to wreak havoc on Western countries with their suicide bombers and chemical weapons of mass destruction, killing a whole lot more. Just a thought. - F Wallis, Barnard Castle.

ADAM FAITH

I WAS sorry to hear of the sudden death of entertainer Adam Faith.

I remember him as a singer in the 1960s and twice saw him perform live on stage in Middlesbrough and Blackpool.

I rather liked his first hit, the catchy What Do You Want?

It was while he was still a young talent that he appeared on the television programme Face To Face with John Freeman. Interviewer Freeman was impressed and later in a newspaper article predicted a bright future for Mr Faith, particularly as an actor.

Some time later Adam Faith went on to star with great success in the television drama Budgie, written by Keith Waterhouse. He proved himself a versatile performer. - LD Wilson, Guisborough.

COURT TVs

AS a member of the judicial system I am appalled by the decision taken by County Durham Magistrates Committee to spend £2,000 on the installation of televisions within the waiting areas of County Durham magistrates courts.

Yet again it is the perpetrator of the crime who will benefit from this equipment and who is going to stop the daily fracas when the arguments start as to what channel to watch?

Court staff have a hard enough job to get defendants into court on time as it is.

Royston Dent (Deputy Chief Executive to Durham Magistrates Courts) defends the decision on the grounds that if you go into a bank or doctors they have the radio playing. (I think they call it background music). He also states that this is in response from public opinion. My response to the public I have spoken to is you and your committee are living in cloud cuckoo land.

I am sure the people of County Durham could find hundreds of more worthy causes to spend this money on before the end of the financial year. - Name and address withheld.

SCHOOL FIRE

THE recent fire at Middleton St George Primary School was both unfortunate and untimely in that it not only created numerous logistical problems, but also dampened the air of enthusiasm that existed following the news of a new school to be built in the near future.

However, what followed was an example of superb teamwork that included teaching staff, governors, parents and council staff at all levels. There was also help from people who simply wanted to be involved and, of course, the expert action of the fire brigade, who did so much to prevent further damage and even rescued some of the children's work.

Following the tears, and there were many, people simply rolled up their sleeves and got on with the task in hand. I want to thank everyone who helped because, by doing so, they have assisted in turning a crisis into a manageable situation. I would like to give a particular mention to the acting head teacher Janine Gleeson for her inspired leadership during a very difficult time. - Councillor Doris Jones.