West’s grubby record in Middle East is little to be proud of

THE latest episode of how America uses its own and Israel’s influence on world events has been ably illustrated at the recent meeting of the United Nations.

We have all witnessed the fancy footwork of Hilary Clinton when the Egyptian people began their protests. This appeared to begin by supporting Mubarak’s attempt at “reconciliation”, only to be followed rather swiftly by the United States pushing him to go.

It was obviously difficult for her to speak with any credibility on this issue as the US (and to a certain degree, the UK) had been propping up Mubarak for about 30 years with military hardware and hard cash.

An Arab resolution at the UN Security Council, sponsored by about 130 countries and endorsed by the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, declared that Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories were illegal and “a major obstacle to the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace”.

All 14 members of the Security Council voted for the resolution, but guess who vetoed it? Yes, the US despite the platitudes of President Obama, who said that he wanted “better relations with the Muslim world”.

The fact that Britain voted for the resolution might well indicate that the coalition Government is just beginning to break away from the stranglehold on foreign policy held by the United States (and reinforced by ex-Prime Minister Blair). I am convinced that the only way for peace to break out in the Middle East is for the Palestinian homeland to be established and Israel, forced by the UN if necessary, to comply with the many resolutions it has ignored over the years.

From: James Bovington, Horsforth, Leeds.

SECURE in his British Empire loyalist mindset, William Hague recently strutted around the Middle East without realising that no-one really cares about his opinion. Britain’s track record in the area is hardly glowing – our interference in Iran toppled their democratically elected government in 1953, which led to the reign of the murderous ayatollahs, and our subsequent American-led humiliation at Suez in 1956 hardly makes us worthy counsellors.

From: John Watson, Hutton Hill, Leyburn.

It was reported that when President Mubarak resigned in Egypt he had billions of pounds stashed away in Western banks. His wife and son also had billions put away for a rainy day.

Where does it all come from?

There is now a move afoot to give India £1bn over four years. This is a country which has more millionaires than us, who are coming here to buy our steelworks and to take car manufacturing away.

They have their own space agency and a nuclear deterrent. I know there is poverty in some parts of that country but surely it is up to their government, aided by their millionaires, to put things right? Here, we are in a severe recession with people losing their jobs every day. I will never again support African charities or anywhere where dictators are lining their pockets while citizens are living in poverty.