Letter: Hypocrisy of bombing Iraq

Sir: President Bush's bombing of Iraq may have served some purpose. It has exposed not only the fallibility of the United States's hi-tech weaponry but the bankrupt nature of its Gulf policy and its growing isolation. Previous Egyptian and Arab support has now vanished, Russia is openly critical, and even the loyal John Major has apparently been trying to urge restraint.

It is now at least possible that instead of forcing President-elect Clinton's hand as intended, these bombing attacks will impel him to think again about Bush's ill-thought-out and futile policy: one which has strengthened Saddam Hussein's arm, is again costing many innocent lives, and is turning the people of Iraq into our bitter enemies.

Yours faithfully,

DAVID GENTLEMAN

London, NW1

18 January