Speaking in Ukraine, US vice-president Dick Cheney was recently reported to have said: "We believe in the right of men and women to live without the threat of tyranny, economic blackmail or military invasion or intimidation".

Fine principles with which few would argue but coming from him, a notorious neo-con and hawk, was it meant to be a joke or does he expect this sanctimonious and hypocritical twaddle to be believed?

GORDON CLACK, Witney Road, Ducklington, Witney