AS the tragic inevitability of war with Iraq looms larger as the days pass, there are, naturally, strong views being expressed in the Bolton Evening News from both sides of the argument.

To hold and express opposite opinions is a right that we have and should feel obliged to use. But what I find objectionable is the consistent anti-American bile that emanates from some of Bolton Evening News's regular correspondents. From Woodrow Wilson (First World War ) through to Franklin D. Roosevelt (Second World War) and up to the Presidents Bush (Gulf War I and probably "Gulf War II") -- not to mention Harry S. Truman -- the US Presidents have faced their challenges as leaders of the Western World and acted in our best interests.

No super power throughout the millennia, I would submit, always does everything that is beyond criticism. But to read some of the terrorist-sympathising, Saddam-supporting tripe would have us believe that the US acts in an evil, self-calculating manner. The US looks after itself and its friends. Thankfully the Western World is a friend of the USA.

Peter Inch

Lexington

Kentucky, USA