What a shame Bert Edmunds spoiled his reply to Douglas Rothery, (Oxford Mail, September 4), his fine start deteriorating and giving totally the wrong impression.

I can assure Mr Edmunds, Iraq played no part in the Twin Towers attack, a lie peddled that the majority of Americans believed. In fact, Al-Qaeda was practically non existent in Iraq, before we invaded. How can the fact that the USA helped us in previous conflicts justify the catastrophe in Iraq? Is he one of the few people left who think the Iraq war is anything but an absolute disaster?

Yes, the Americans came to our aid in WW2 — only after they were attacked at Pearl Harbour. This country has just finished paying for the last repayment of that "aid", (mostly interest), to our friends in the USA, paid just last year. Now that's what I call a special relationship.

Regarding the on-going voting debate in your pages, I do understand why people traditionally vote Labour but in my opinion, it's way past redeeming. What your "New Labour" and Tory correspondents fail to address, is the fact that there is NO difference between the parties, and that includes the Liberal Democrats.

Mind you, I have to smile when anyone who has to get out of bed in the morning to go to work can vote for the Tory "toffs"! (Even bigger joke)! They are all pro-war, pro-business, parties that don't give a jot about ordinary working people. Democracy, it's a joke!

TIM W SIRET, Evans Road, Eynsham, Oxford