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Letters to the Editor:

Watching the liars wriggle

It is truly amazing how Bush, Blair and Howard and others in leading 
positions in these three governments, continue to brazenly lie about 
weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Twelve hundred weapons inspectors from the US, Britain and Australia have 
spent more than three months and US$300 million scouring the country since 
the end of the war in Iraq. The number of weapons of mass destruction found 
-- nil.

Prior to that, UN weapons inspectors spent over four months scouring the 
country. The number of WMD found -- nil.

They are still clutching at straws in the hope that something will turn up 
(not excluding the possibility that something will be planted and then 
found) to justify this most obnoxious and illegal of wars.

Here are just a few of their lying statements -- lest we forget:

"Intelligence leaves no doubt that Iraq continues to possess and conceal 
lethal weapons".

George Bush, March 18, 2003

"Saddam's removal is necessary to eradicate the threat from his weapons of 
mass destruction".

Jack Straw, British Foreign Secretary April 2, 2003

"We are asked to accept Saddam decided to destroy those weapons. I say that 
such a claim is palpably absurd".

Tony Blair, March 18, 2003

"Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of 
mass destruction".

Dick Cheney, US Vice-President August 26, 2002

"Right now, Iraq is expanding and improving facilities that were used for 
the production of biological weapons".

George "aWol" Bush. Speech to UN General Assembly. September 12, 2002

Bruce Gillman
Sydney

How can anyone be expected to seriously believe the repeated statements 
by Israel and its supporters that to stop Palestinian violence Israel must 
build a wall, that Arafat has to go into exile or that the Palestinian 
Authority has to repress and disarm the militants.

These are all Israeli distractions from the real crux of the problem. The 
only effective way to decrease Palestinian resistance and resolve the 
Palestinian issue is for Israel to stop the occupation, withdraw from the 
Palestinian territories and stop building illegal settlements there.

The Palestinian violence is a reaction to the Israeli occupation. Any other 
so-called solutions that negate this central fact are just pathetic side 
issues and delays while suffering on both sides continues.

Steven Katsineris
Hurstbridge, Vic

The collapse of the WTO round in Cancun may inject a sense of realism 
into thinking about Australian agriculture policy. While Australia should 
continue to argue for reductions in subsidies and lowering of tariffs in 
the US and the EU, for many good reasons, the level playing field simply 
isn't happening at all.

That goal of at least 30 years standing remains totally illusive. Given 
that this is the reality, should Australians allow their generally 
efficient farming sector to be wiped out further through tariff reductions 
and only spasmodic assistance, mostly to combat droughts or floods?

Seems to me we should match the subsidy levels applied elsewhere, raise the 
tariffs where required and get on with rebuilding agriculture and boosting 
rural exports.

Last year 45,000 jobs were lost in the rural sector. In an already highly 
urbanised society this doesn't make sense.

Some say we don't have that option. Please explain! Otherwise change tack. 
The proposed FTA with the US, not wanted by American farmers anyway, could 
carry a much higher price for Australia than subsidies.

Klaas Woldring
Pearl Beach, NSW

How good was that rugby league grand final? The Penrith Panthers from 
the struggling working class of western Sydney versus the silvertail 
Roosters from the wealthy inner eastern suburbs, with the Panthers the 
winners.

Our opportunistic PM John Howard was there, of course, to try and shore up 
support from the battlers he claims to represent.

On the stage at the centre of Telstra Stadium with the team captains and 
league officials was Johnnie, and when he was introduced the majority 
Penrith supporters in the 82,000 crowed booed together spontaneously.

They know who's destroying their heath services, their schools and their 
jobs.

Nathan Barnes
Brisbane