Sir, I have often heard the claim that “we armed Saddam”. Thankfully A. H. Cordesman, in his 1998 report on the Iraqi military for the Center for Strategic & International Studies, has enlightened me.

In the key period between 1973-91 the US exported a mere $5 million of weapons to Iraq; more reprehensibly the UK sold $330 million-worth of arms. Of much greater interest are the arms export totals to Iraq of the four countries most against military action: Germany with $995 million, China $5,500 million, France $9,240 million, and the Russians a massive $31,800 million. So the claim that we armed Saddam has to be treated with a degree of care, particularly by those who would award the moral high ground in this debate to the leaders of nations such as Germany, France and Russia.

I remain your obedient servant,
ANDREW HAMILTON,
Dermatology Laboratory,
Thomas Guy House, Guy’s Hospital,
St Thomas’ Street, SE1 9RT.
March 10.

From Mr R. W. Leon

Sir, Russia has a vested interest in keeping the stand-off with Iraq going for a few months more. Russia is now a major exporter of oil, and it will be in trouble if it loses this income. Oil at $20 per barrel is not near so attractive as oil at $35, and the difference would be felt by the Russian economy. Even $20 might not hold after the US victory, and we may see oil even lower.

When this war with Iraq is over there should be a complete rethink about the United Nations, for its present form is purely a relic of the Second World War and it no longer reflects the realities of the new century.

Yours truly,
R. W. LEON,
Glion House, Montreux Court,
Douglas, Isle of Man IM2 6AF.
March 13.

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