On the day that he sanctioned the invasion of Iraq on fictitious grounds the Prime

On the day that he sanctioned the invasion of Iraq, on fictitious grounds, the Prime Minister forfeited the moral authority of his office and Britain as a whole to speak out against tyranny and the flouting of the rule of law and international agreement.He can pontificate as much as he likes about the wickedness of the Iranian President’s statements on Israel, but nobody beyond the neo-con circle he has constructed is listening, least of all those for whom Britain’s opinions once mattered – moderate opinion in the Middle East.NICHOLAS TAPPBIRCHINGTON KENTSir: Adrian Hamilton says Syria and Iran are “Iraq’s biggest neighbours” Not so. In the world of inexorable globalisation, Little Englandism would be economically and politically suicidal. This is no time for navel gazing.JOHN ROMERLONDON W5 Syria and Israel are beyond compare Sir: Adrian Hamilton bemoans the unfair demonisation of Syria (“Iraq, Iran, and the demonisation of Syria”, 3 November), citing instances where Israel has got away with flouting international law.While the five permanent Security Council members have been selective in enforcing UN resolutions in the past, this in no way de-legitimises or renders any less credible Resolution 1636, which demands unconditional co-operation by Syria with the UN inquiry into the assassination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The precept that rules that cannot be enforced completely should not be enforced at all is a highly dubious one.It is therefore surprising that this flawed argument, which has long been the line of defence for dictators whose crimes have caught up with them, should now be taken seriously.MALIK AL-ABDEHSYRIAN MOVEMENT FOR JUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT, LONDON W3Sir: Comparing Syria and Israel, as Adrian Hamilton has done, is absurd.Syria, apparently, has brotherly affection for its Arab neighbour Lebanon, yet President Assad’s family and henchmen conspire to assassinate Lebanese politicians and journalists who presume, wholly peacefully, to criticise Syria.By what logic is the situation comparable to the bare-knuckle warfare that prevails between Palestinian jihadi elements, who openly call for the elimination of Israel and “glorify” their terror operations, and the Israeli forces, who legitimately take steps to frustrate their plans?DIANE GOODKINDLONDON NW3Sir: I find the arrogance of Tony Blair ever more extraordinary in his recent statements about Iran.

Especially with the recent accession of nations liberated from communism, Britain has an opportunity, nay, moral obligation, to assume a leading and constructive role in the union of European nations. All globally active campaigning organisations have to fly their staff around the world at times. You have failed to see the wood for the trees, by focusing on a small aspect of a much bigger, more positive picture.PATRICK HOLDENDIRECTOR, THE SOIL ASSOCIATION BRISTOL A new role for the disgruntled English Sir: From his analysis of national disgruntlement (4 November), Terence Blacker omits a very important element, identified by Dean Acheson, of Britain failing to find a role after losing the empire. It would have been counter-environmental not to have taken those seats, and added more C02 emissions by taking an additional flight.All other Soil Association staff flying to this concert and to launch our new major international campaign, Food for Life, travelled economy and all flights, including those on Eos, were made carbon-neutral.

This is why we stood nostalgically aloof from the Treaty of Rome, leaving a clear field for France to railroad through such inequitable policies as the CAP.Nil desperandum, though. Are there any teachers, policemen, workers or pensioners who think he did a good job?ALAN DAVIESKINGSWINFORD, WEST MIDLANDS Green flight across the Atlantic Sir: Pandora’s story “Tree-hugger Sting takes ‘worst’ polluting airline’s sponsorship” (3 November) claims that “the Soil Association flew several executives” on an Eos flight to New York. Is this scientific evidence that the butler always does it?MATTHEW LLOYDWOLVERHAMPTONSir: David Blunkett has been Education Secretary, Home Secretary and Work and Pensions Secretary. I have to admire the way David Blunkett has followed his master in his latest escapade by laying claim to the traditional Conservative ground while still retaining his own.PHILIP CRESSWELLOXFORDSir: Dr Raj Persaud (“Did the rewards of office distort his judgement?”, 3 November) cites a study that says those in positions of power see themselves “as immune from threat from those ‘below stairs’ ” and that this eventually backfires when those “below stairs” take revenge on their superiors.

The “replacement” approach, particularly if allied to a “sectarian” secularism that is intolerant of all belief, is a recipe for alienation and underachievement, especially among pupils who lack confidence, security or, in their view, opportunity.THE REV PAUL HYPHERBENTHAM, NORTH YORKSHIRE Blunkett carries on a great tradition Sir: It always used to be said that the great Conservative scandals were about sex while the great Labour scandals were about money. I have yet to see evidence from serious research that justifies this assertion. A few faith schools may be narrowly sectarian, but the considerable majority are not. Many are promoted by the Church of England and carry no sectarian religious agenda; they simply seek to place the Christian church at the service of local communities.Schools of faiths other than Christian should be able to achieve this, too, by affirming and fostering the faith, cultural identity and background of pupils, while at the same time helping them be open to society in general and to the cultural and spiritual identities of others in particular.This is a more sensible way forward than seeking to ignore the differing cultural and spiritual identities in an attempt to create a replacement identity.

If that’s true, perhaps she could explain the existence of the fashion industry.RICHARD MARRLONDON W3 Faith schools foster cultural identity Sir: With reference to Johann Hari’s article (“Q: Are there links between the Birmingham riots and the building of more faith schools?” 27 October): how many of the rioters can be shown to have been segregated by attendance at faith schools?Since the Swann Report in 1985, public inquiries have regularly linked racial disharmony to school segregation. And me? I’m a jeans, T-shirt and trainers wearer, so I won’t be dining in Margate either.PAUL ALEXANDERMANCHESTERSir: Janet Street-Porter claims that “the notion that you can judge people by their clothes in modern Britain is ludicrous”. It is no longer the doorman who has shown “disrespect” but a faceless corporation.I’m sure if Ms Street-Porter were to work just one evening on the door of a late bar or nightclub in a city centre, she would be grateful for the opportunity to pass the buck when confronted by somebody she has personally “dissed” and who is “comin’ back with the shooters”.The reason a venue chooses certain items of clothing to determine suitability for admission is not pettiness but experience and understanding what the majority of its paying customers expect. Unfortunately, many of the young men targeted by such sweeping rules do in fact wear particular styles and makes of fashion as gang uniform. I wonder if some of the beer halls of 1930s Germany had similar rules regarding jackboots and brown shirts,which also indicated a possible belligerent attitude coupled with intransigence to reason.During twenty years in the nightclub industry, I have seen the growing “gangster” mentality of many young men. In the past, it would have been possible for door staff to simply say, “Sorry, guys, not tonight.” That is no longer so readily accepted, and often those refused admission take it as a sign of personal disrespect, and respond with threats and acts of retribution This is where a dress code can help.