SIR - Does Karl Dallas really believe that anyone in Iraq would dare to criticise Saddam Hussein's regime, especially to people who are then repeating those views to the press (T&A, February 24)? Does he know that more than four million people have fled persecution in Iraq to seek asylum in the West?

I have family and many friends in Iraq and spent six months there last year. During that time I visited many camps of displaced persons driven from their homes and villages as part of Saddam's ethnic cleansing policy.

These camps are full of mainly women and children. Their husbands, sons and fathers were taken away and never seen again.

No-one wants war, but in this case more lives could be saved than lost in the long run. It would be an act of humanity to rid Iraq of Saddam Hussein and liberate its people.

I sincerely hope that none of the so-called human shields are injured should there be a war. All equipment, doctors and medicines are in very short supply. They could be depriving the people who have no choice but to be there of the medication and care which could save their lives.

Elizabeth Powell, Northfield Road, Wibsey.

SIR - Now war looms I suppose I'm not alone in being a baffled Bradfordian. Initially I thought Mr Blair had his priorities wrong - perhaps I still do.

I have no illusions about fundamentalist Islam. It's a menace, but I think we should call its bluff.

Israel needs to be leaned on hard to withdraw behind 1967 borders, with "tripwire" US, EU and maybe Russian military guarantor presence, allowing a viable Palestinian state to be created. This would remove at least the stated raison d'etre for Islamist extremism.

But then comes the bafflement. Only ten per cent support war without UN "backing," but 60 per cent with it. Why? What is it about the UN that justifies such influence?

The UN is simply a direct diplomatic representation of the world's sovereign governments; of which 20 per cent are incompetent, 20 per cent corrupt, 20 per cent evil and a further 20 per cent a ghastly combination of all three!

I don't agree with them, but those who oppose war in all circumstances at least have a coherent position. UN "backing" is a wonderful thing. Ask the Muslim menfolk of Srebrenica perhaps? Sorry, you can't - they're all dead.

M Pollard, Moorfield Avenue, Baildon.

SIR - I read with no surprise that the racist cleric, Abdullah El-Faisal, has used our country to spread hatred against Hindus, Jews, and most of the western world who aren't Muslim.

What didn't surprise me either is the fact we the public pay him to do it. Like most of these clerics who spend most of their time spreading hate, he is on benefits supporting him and his family. He hasn't permitted his love of his religion to stop him dipping his hand in the state pocket of the hated western world.

I noted that his passion for Jihad has diminished now he faces deportation. The Hell it has. His comments are pure rhetoric.

I for one do not want to see war with anyone. It's bad enough getting through life without that hanging over the world. But you're more than welcome to strap a bomb to El-Faisal, the BNP and anybody else who threaten me or my family's peaceful future.

Put them on an unmanned boat into the Atlantic and light the fuse...

Oh and I wonder what happened to the money made on his videos of hate. Did he declare those earnings?

Dean Loynes, Sixtyone Management Limited, North Parade, Bradford.

SIR - A political leaflet dropped through my letterbox the other day telling of the many good things that had recently benefited the residents. One unusual item took the eye. A Parish Council for Wrose?

The village of Wrose, seemingly too small a community in its own right, offers to include the nether parts of the locality in the nearby Bolton Ward as partners in this proposal for an additional authority.

Is Labour-controlled Shipley East offering the hand of friendship to Liberal Democrat Bolton? What a shame that this entente cordial was not evident when the Shipley East councillors foisted a deeply-flawed traffic scheme for 230 new homes in the adjacent Bolton Woods ward on to the local residents.

Support the campaign, we are urged. Sign the petition. Only 500 signatures required to move to the next stage.

So what is it all about? Do we really need another layer of bureaucracy? Will there be any real benefits? And how much extra will it cost?

The issue may have been a spontaneous one created by the village residents but shouldn't we be told where it is leading before signing carte blanche?

R J Lacey, Wrose Road, Bradford.

SIR - My recent letter about humourless Coronation Street was published just before the blockbusting episode watched by nearly 20 million viewers.

Quite frankly, those of us old enough to remember the first episodes in the early Sixties would have found it hard to stomach the dour stuff churned out relentlessly nowadays.

It was a programme of northern characters, which was a novelty at the time and could be identified by the working classes.

It was often the talk of the shop floor where I worked with the antics of Ena Sharples, Albert Tatlock and company spoken of with amusement.

I can't really see where the next laugh is coming from, what with the poker faces of Emily Bishop and Ken Barlow.

Maybe a whoopee cushion under Emily or an unguarded intimate moment of Ken pondering his diminishing supply of Viagra might give us all a bit of light relief!

Kenneth E Higgins, Bempton Court, Great Horton.

SIR - May I invite your readers to join me in pulling the plug on the pro-bloodsports electrician who was photographed with a few cronies and, incredibly, two innocent, impressionable children extolling the enjoyment he gets out of watching hares being torn to pieces by dogs (T&A, February 25)?

For just the cost of a stamp, write to your MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA ensuring that he gives his/her full support to a complete ban on hunting with dogs during the upcoming debate.

Ministers such as Chris Leslie have promised that they will support such a total ban. So let's all look forward to the time when bloodsports are criminalised and even the daddy saddies who got a kick from them will see the light!

Sid Brown, Glenhurst Road, Shipley.

SIR - The parents of children who damage others' property should pay for it. I blame the parents for not keeping their children under control and teaching them the difference between right and wrong.

Bradford Community Housing Trust should apply for anti-social behaviour and noise nuisance orders and evict families whose children are responsible for damage.

Don't get me wrong, you can have some nice council and private tenants.

Miss A Cole, Sandholme Drive, Thorpe Edge, Bradford.

SIR - I read with some interest the controversy surrounding the Velvet/"Love Your Bum" advertising campaign.

Apparently these posters have been causing much offence and some people have been demanding that they be removed.

On the contrary, I would have thought that to certain people in Bradford - especially those on a Friday night out, who have partaken of 17 pints of lager and a vindaloo curry - these advertisements would be absolutely essential!

Bottoms up!

Pamela Singh, Leeds Road, Bradford.

SIR - Well, what can I say about your front-page report of February 25. "Hi-tech Vision for Library"?

Another new, modern building for our wonderful city, to complement our new proposed "Civic hub plan"! Oh and the new proposals for the interior of our City Hall!

Does our Council really think this will be the answer to solve all the problems that Bradford faces? Isn't it time that they stopped playing ostrich, assuming that a new look will make our problems vanish in a puff of smoke?

I would love to see a front page that read "Reprieve for Meadowcroft and Greenacres", with the first line telling us "Bradford Social Services have done a U-turn and decided to keep these homes open, under their control".

And they should be proud to issue a statement of this kind. These homes are wonderful.

At the risk of repeating myself, we may also be seeing the headline "New Bradford councillors' promise is fulfilled - residential care homes will stay open," in the not-too distant future.

Mrs Sally Firth, Ransdale Road, Little Horton, Bradford.