A ROTTEN government in Baghdad appears to have been replaced by anarchy. Even a rotten government is preferable to anarchy.

No "weapons of mass destruction" have been found in Iraq of the type which undoubtedly exist in Israel and North Korea. Like bin Laden before him, Saddam Hussein has done a disappearing act. However, perhaps this war can still be justified.

The gung-ho Texan, himself elected on a rigged vote, should acknowledge the help he has received from the Iraqi Kurds, whose restrained and exemplary behaviour as victors must be without precedent in the history of the planet.

These long-suffering but courageous people should now be rewarded with their own sovereign independent state. If Ankara objects, so be it. Turkey did precious little to help Messrs Bush and Blair.

Furthermore, if Damascus and Teheran are "put out," they likewise can "lump it." Sooner or later, the oppressed Turkish, Syrian and Iranian Kurds will break the chains that bind them. However, this does not mean that the Texan cowboy should not contemplate marching on Damascus and Teheran.

If Mr Bush is drunk with power, he should consider removing the most horrible dictators of all, Kim Jong-Il in North Korea and Mugabe in Zimbabwe. But he will not do that. There is no oil in North Korea or Zimbabwe.

D E MARGRETT,

Worcester.