Letter: Humanity for Iraq

Sir: Your correspondent Robert Fisk has been trying, seemingly in vain, to remind Britain and America that the policies they are pursuing towards the Arabs of the Middle East are misguided and wrong.

Now Mr Blair and company talk about keeping Saddam Hussein in a cage, but has it never occurred to them that caging an angry man only adds to his fury, which will be in nobody's interest?

Perhaps the leaders of the United States and Britain might, during this season of goodwill, reflect on and heed the advice given by a truly good man shared by both countries, William Penn of England and Pennsylvania: "For if men did see we love them, we should soon find they would not harm us. Force may subdue but love gains, and he that forgives first wins the laurel."

Perhaps a little understanding and humane treatment of Iraq, together with some honest evaluation of the problem in the Middle East, will let all out of their cages.

Or are such sentiments and hopes alien to the scheming natures of the present-day leaders of the western world?

I R RASMY

Honiton,

Devon