Madam, - The US has finally placed the elusive WMDs on its illustrious list of make-believe and fancy. One must ask, though, if the timing of this announcement, in the wake of the Asian Tsunami disaster when the attention of the world is elsewhere, an example of what New Labour might call "a good time to bury bad news". - Yours, etc.,
MARTIN BROWNE, Rockfield, Dublin 14.
Madam, - As two important dates approach in the history of Iraq, the forthcoming elections and the inauguration of its proxy president, it interesting to reflect on the past two years. This week the US government officially wound down the search for WMDs and in doing so acknowledged that there was probably never an immediate threat to the West.
There are many depressing implications here. One is that it seems that reality is whatever Mr Bush and Mr Blair believe, regardless of what the facts may say. Another is that one of the world's most respected news organisations, the BBC, has been denigrated by its own government for having the temerity to make the suggestion that WMDs did not exist.
Finally, and most seriously, the situation in Iraq is spiralling out of control and long buried ethnic divisions are being awoken by the strong-arm tactics of the coalition, especially its use of the mainly Shia National Guard to carry out its dirty work.
So much for the crusade for democracy and freedom of speech.- Yours, etc.,
BARRY WALSH, Blackrock, Cork.