WE are living in a period of great uncertainty over world peace. When (not if) will George Dubya launch a blitzkrieg against Baghdad in an attempt, probably doomed, to remove the 'real' Saddam Hussein?

As there are reportedly several in existence, all looking exactly the same, the chances of hitting the proper one seem remote.

I doubt that will deter Bush Junior. He seems determined to finish the job started, and, for some reason, halted by his dad when the coalition forces were at the gates of Baghdad, 12 years ago.

Incidentally, before we leave Saddam, does anyone else believe we have seen, on a number of previous occasions, the same TV shots of army officers, applauding and shaking their fists as their leader, at the head of the war cabinet table, issues yet another defiant message to the West?

They are hardly likely to mutter dissent as Mr Hussein has a penchant for shooting anyone who holds, let alone expresses, opinions opposed to his own.

And the crowd burning the Stars and Stripes. Aren't they the same bunch who have been burning the US flag since the 1990s Gulf War? And where did they get the flag, as possession of one must surely be considered an offence punishable by hanging, shooting, beheading and burning at the stake? They must all be extras from Iraqi TV with a flag borrowed from its props department.

There are other causes for concern. North Korea would appear to present a bigger threat to world peace than Saddam as they are a nuclear power. The long-running firefighters' pay dispute. Financial markets in freefall. Terrorists posing as asylum seekers. The horrific death of little Victoria Climbie and the 'lamentable' administrative, managerial and professional lapses which led to social workers failing to save her. Violence inflicted on elderly people by thugs intent on robbing them. Need I go on?

However, the purpose of these scribblings is primarily to pass comment on current events, not to further depress its readers. So I will throw in a couple of observations which may serve to lighten the gloom.

I've thought of a new name for Emily Bishop. 'Hard Hat'! No-one who takes a murderous whack over the skull with a metal bar wielded by a man driven to such desperate measures as Richard would be up and about in a matter of days.

Maxine -- or Maxime as the grief-stricken Ashley has always called her -- is now in that big hairdressing salon in the sky, complete with a tonsorial make-over by Audrey Roberts, again something which stretches the boundaries of credulity, seeing as how the lovely Max had her skull caved in.

Richard reminds me of Dick Dastardly pursuing Penelope Pitstop in Wacky Races, those wonderful cartoons of yesteryear. Dick never won. Peter Perfect came to the rescue. Could Norris see himself as Peter Perfect? Think about it. At least it will take your mind off Saddam and George Dubya.