I REFER to the letter from Julian Thake (You Say, May 16).

If Shia Muslim fundamentalists of the type who have held sway in Iran since Khomeini ousted the Shah also take over Iraq, we shall indeed perceive Saddam Hussein to have been the lesser evil, especially as no weapons of mass destruction have been found.

Mr Thake speaks correctly of the manner in which Saddam ignored so many UN Resolutions.

However, this correspondent seems to forget that Israel has consistently treated the world body with contempt, ignoring every resolution relating to itself.

Because USA and UK have double standards, which always favour Israel, the Third World - overtly or covertly - tends to support Iran and Iraq, no matter who holds the reins of power in those countries.

Furthermore, Israel is known to possess a considerable arsenal of weapons of mass destruction, some of which are probably more deadly than anything held by any other power.

However, no one would dare suggest that UN inspectors be sent into Ariel Sharon's domain.

What's more, the Jewish state and North Korea may be the only two countries prepared to make first use of such weaponry.

D E MARGRETT,

Worcester.