The first "Blair was warned of Iraq-terror connection" arose because of another leaked document now seized upon by the usual anti-Blair, anti-war faction.
The theme is continued by Simon Lee ("Put Blair to test on his victory words") who predicts a disastrous downturn in our national and personal solvency – which he blames on the "foreign policy mistakes of the Government's second term".
Then your editorial gives belated support to "Comical Ali" which, though seemingly plausible, does not give the facts as they were – that while the Americans were on the doorstep, he was telling his people that they were nowhere near.
This year we have been remembering the end of the Second World War.
And I am left wondering how those who were fighting the nation's enemies would have felt if they had seen political advantage being made out of our difficulties, and the nation's media constantly portraying only the bad news.
Certainly Hitler – like the terrorists in Iraq – would have been delighted.
Could the Yorkshire Post please give a lead by publishing the good news of the many things being done on our behalf by our young men and women in Iraq?

Let everyone celebrate this England

From: JT Henry, Greengate Lane, Knaresborough.
WHY shouldn't everyone who has settled in England, whether their ancestry is Welsh, Scottish, Irish, Jewish, Polish, Ukrainian, Caribbean, Indian, Pakistani, African, Kurdish, Huguenot, Norse, Norman or true Ancient Brit, celebrate the country that's their home on St George's Day in years to come?
"The English" are a mongrel race, and have been since the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons, if not before.
It is the influence of wave after wave of invader and peaceful settler to which we owe the richness and flexibility of our language, and the nuances of our culture and the development of our political system.
Later settlers from Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, South East Asia, China, Africa and elsewhere have presumably come to England because of some attraction, and even if it was only because of a job, it is England's success which made that job available.
There is, then, something about England which everyone who chooses to live here must value.
So why not celebrate this country we live in on the day of its patron saint with festivals around the country in which everyone is encouraged to take part under the flag of St George?
There'd be Morris dancers, Scottish pipers, Welsh singers, Caribbean Carnival costumes and reggae bands, Pakistani drummers, Indian dancers, and contingents of people from all over the world, with their music and their costumes – and their foods. Plus, of course, rain and umbrellas.
And what would they all have in common? Their home. Their England.

Support for family
From: BH Sheridan, Redmires Road, Sheffield.
I AGREE with HH Greaves (Letters, August 23) that it does appear hypocritical of Brazilian officials to support the inquiry into the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes while presiding over the execution of feral urchins in the interests of the Brazilian tourist industry.
However, if a Briton had been killed in similar circumstances abroad, his family would have expected our government to move heaven and earth to get to the truth. Should the de Menezes family be denied the same rights because they happen to come from such a wretched country? Talking to people, I have been saddened to find, at best, a qualified sympathy with the police officers involved, which I share at least until the investigation is complete but, more commonly, a visceral desire to find evidence that by his behaviour – and technically he was an illegal immigrant – Mr Menezes had it coming to him and his life was expendable.

Plight of farmed dogs
From: Nessie Logan, Bridlington Road, Nafferton, Driffield.
CAMPAIGNS for humane conditions for farm animals have captivated the attention of both the media and the general public.
How ironic, then, that dogs, which continue to be farmed in the most appalling conditions on these islands, fall outside the most basic animal welfare regulations and are treated worse than battery hens.
It is difficult to put into words the horrors these dogs – held in small cages and condemned to produce litter after litter – have to put up with. The suffering goes on, day after day, month after month.
According to Dogs Trust, an unwanted dog is destroyed every hour in the UK and yet these horrendous places are still churning out weak, sickly, worm and flea-infested puppies and foisting them on an ill-informed public.
All prospective dog owners should contact the breed club who will have a list of reputable breeders. Always see the puppy with its mother and inspect the environment where it was bred.

Missing the message
From: Steve Lane, Ploverly, Werrington, Peterborough.
THE pro-EU lobby is practised at selecting snippets of items to support its cause. To argue Robin L Scott's claim (Letters, August 23) that Norway would achieve more influence within the EU, one expects nothing less from the Norwegian Labour Party leader – and rejected Prime Minister– Jens Stoltenberg. This man has long been a supporter of the "Yes" lobby in that country.
Sadly for Mr Stoltenberg, he just doesn't get the message. Nearly 60 per cent now oppose EU membership. He is a member of a twice-defeated campaign for membership (1972 and 1994); when referenda were last held in Norway.
The opposition to a Norwegian membership of the EU increased in June from 42 per cent to 59 per cent, according to an opinion poll after both the Netherlands and France had voted "No" to the EU constitution. The country's Prime Minister admits he does not know when they may consider EU membership again and yet Mr Stoltenberg wants a new referendum on the issue in 2006.
The message here is simply to listen to the people, and not inept party leadership.

Rhinos' captain proves a real role model

From: Mrs R Smith, Leeds, Road, Dewsbury.
WITH regard to Tom Richmond's comments about respect and role models (Yorkshire Post, August 27), he is right when he says that talents like Leeds Rhinos' captain Kevin Sinfield must be utilised beyond the rugby pitch.
My son and I went to Headingley on Sunday to welcome the team back after their Challenge Cup defeat, and offer our condolences. The way Mr Sinfield spoke to my son was first-rate.
In spite of his obvious disappointment, the fact that he, and others, were prepared to speak to fans at length was truly memorable, and an example that I am sure would not be replicated by footballers.
The gash on the side of his face was testimony to the bravery of these players, and their skills. If Tony Blair wants to find role models for his respect agenda, he could not find a better team.
Mr Sinfield has restored my faith in sports stars, in that they are not all overpaid prima donnas. He could not have been a more deserving winner of the Lance Todd Trophy at Cardiff – for the sportsmanship that he has shown in the most testing of times.

Council missing opportunity to develop park mansion

From: Keith Johnson, Dean Park Drive, Drighlington.
I AM writing regarding the proposed development of Roundhay Park Mansion in Leeds .
I think Leeds City Council is missing the opportunity to expand the commercial use of the Mansion, which is what I am sure the public would prefer.
Over the years there has been a difficulty in booking the Mansion for functions or events such as weddings, without a great deal of advance notice.
Increasing the number and size of the rooms would make it a more viable commercial proposition.
I hope that further thought is given to the development as I would doubt that the monies or opportunity will arise again.

Metric measures must not be foisted on public

From: JR Nursey, Flaxton, York.
KRJ Deary (Letters, August 25), replying to my letter about the illegal use of metric for footpath signs, has slightly missed the point.
As he says, distances at the edge of Ordnance Survey maps are given in both kilometres and miles, as are the scales given at the bottom. This is present practice and has been the case for some time.
The "mysterious metric maps" I referred to are the maps which York City Council and North Yorkshire County Council claim to use which now justify the changing of signs to metric. Presumably these maps no longer give distances in miles.
I am well aware, as Mr Deary points out, that grid reference lines are spaced in kilometres, but this has no relevance to measuring distances along footpaths.
Footpaths do not follow grid reference lines. The grid layout is for the purpose of defining grid reference points, not for measuring distances along footpaths. This is what scales are for.
The bottom line to this business is, of course, that the use of metric signs for public footpaths is illegal. Bureaucrats should abide by the law and not take it upon themselves to foist metric distances on a public which quite comprehensively does not want them. When did Mr Deary last hear anyone talking about going for a 10-kilometre walk in the country?

Well done for Yorkshire Water
From: Jack Duckworth, Rossett Holt View, Harrogate.
A COUPLE of days ago, the cold-water tap in the bathroom started to flow with dark brown water so I checked the position with the kitchen tap downstairs. It was the same.
I telephoned Yorkshire Water and the woman who replied was most helpful.
She said, after a brief pause, that there were no engineering works near my home, as far as her records showed.
She ended the conversation by saying that sometimes the fire brigade tested the water hydrants, and that this caused loose sediment to discolour the water in an area. Then some 30 minutes later (it might have been sooner) a Yorkshire Water employee called to see about the trouble. After a quick check, he confirmed that the fire brigade had tested a nearby hydrant and caused the problem, which he quickly put right. I was most impressed, and wish to thank Yorkshire Water for such a speedy and efficient first-class service.
Addressing the poverty issue
From: Barbara Raine, Marlborough Road, Shipley.
I READ the headline "Blair in the swim with £82 trunks" (Yorkshire Post, August 24) and my fingers itched to take up my pen. The story didn't say he had paid that price, but even to publicise it seemed almost obscene. A sum like that would buy useful clothing for a whole season for someone in need. "Which group of electors does he claim to represent?" I fumed to myself. Not me any more.
Then I turned the page and what did I read? "Tories need to steal Blair's clothes" – and I laughed. That says it all.
And then I read (on page six): "Gap widens between rich and poor" Enough said.
Praise for RAF
From Ray Kidd, chairman, York Branch Royal Air Forces Association, Aldwark, York.
I MUST express my surprise at Richard Maude's letter of complaint (Yorkshire Post, August 23) regarding access to RAF Linton-on-Ouse and can only think that his letter must have gone astray.
As the chairman of the York branch of the Royal Air Forces Association, and also in my wider connections with the Air Training Corps, I have always found the station to be most willing and co-operative.
With so many veterans events taking place this year, members have paid two excellent visits to Linton where they have been taken on tours of the base and visited the flight line before browsing through the fascinating photographs and studying artefacts in the Memorial Room. I do know that many other groups and individuals from further afield have been similarly well treated. We are now looking forwards to a major event in the autumn.
We must speak as we find, where in my experience the treatment received could not have been better. I would recommend that Mr Maude tries again.


Left stumped
From: GB Hiscoe, Aspin Park Lane, Knaresborough.
WE all enjoyed the recent Test Match at Trent Bridge, and the tension and nail-biting incidents. According to those who know, there is a strong revival in cricket. Yet I read that the England and Wales Cricket Board has sold the rights of viewing cricket to Sky Television for next year.
Looking at the cost of receiving Sky transmissions, I believe that a great majority of cricket enthusiasts will be denied watching their favourite game on TV. What next: the Cup Final, the Grand National, the Boat Race?