EMMA Deighan is a talented young lady, wise beyond her 16 years. Her letter of April 8, like her recent profile of a 16-year-old, was excellent. However, I cannot wholly agree with what she says.

Oh, yes, we must not allow dictators to amass arsenals and armies that are likely to become a threat to world peace, but surely we must allow countries to have weapons enough to defend themselves?

There was no proof, and, as yet after the fall of Baghdad, still isn't, that Saddam had WMD. And that was supposedly the reason for this war.

But as things have developed, so have the reasons for this war, and it has now become a war of liberation.

I would have perhaps believed this to be true, and supported it, if the armies of liberation had first been sent to Zimbabwe where millions suffer under mad Mugabe, or Chechnya or China. Do people suffer more lies in China than in Iraq?

No, the reason for this war seems to have changed as the situation has changed, but in fact has never changed at all. Uncle Sam must have his oil.

Oh, yes, the Americans will pay for the Iraqi oil by building new hospitals, schools, McDonald's, etc, but American companies will get the lucrative contracts, the American people will get their cheap oil, and George W will get another term in office.

I am delighted at the downfall of Saddam, but disgusted by the hypocrisy.

Brian Derbyshire

Ribchester Grove

Bolton