Israel’s dilemma
Sir: Jeffrey Goldberg (‘Israel isn’t bluffing’, 10 March) is probably right, but if Israel does attack Iran, they are in a no-win situation. Iran is a large country some distance away. One or two bombing missions will have little effect — look at the weeks it took for Nato to degrade Libya’s defences.
Either Israel fails, in which case that leaves it in a weak position, or else it succeeds in bombing Iran into submission, in which case Russia will have to upgrade Iran’s defences, probably helped by China, because an Israel so strong it could dominate the entire region would be unacceptable.
The best we can hope for is a token attack, such as the one against Syria a few years ago: more a political statement than a genuine act of war.
Andrew Levens
Cirencester
Ukip and the bogeyman
Sir: I am astonished that Rod Liddle has joined the establishment, the BBC, and other media in trying to discredit Ukip by associating it with the BNP. Surely he knows that Ukip, the only party to offer us an alternative to the stranglehold of Europe, has wide and growing support? The defection of the Conservative MEP Roger Helmer to Ukip is a very recent example of this.
No attempt to resurrect the BNP corpse will frighten away British voters. They know that the unelected and destructively incompetent European bureaucrats are the source of almost all our problems. They know that the Westminster parliament does little more than administer EU projects, such as the preposterous High Speed 2.
They know that a corrupt EU elite now runs our country and our lives, with a hideous caricature of a parliament as a front. Rod Liddle is on the wrong side this time. I was born a free man in a sovereign state governed by a parliamentary democracy. Ukip gives me the hope that I shall not die a slave in a European tyranny.
David Hutton
Cheshire
Something for everyone
Sir: Thanks are due to James Delingpole (10 March) for saying that the consensus on quantitative easing reminds him of that on global warming. He has materially increased the amount of happiness in the world, because zealots on both sides of both issues will have been reassured.
Fergus Reynolds
London W10
Fenwickity point
Sir: I was surprised to see no mention of the Fenwicks in J.R.H. McEwen’s interesting Borders Notebook (10 March). We are of Saxon origin and were at Fenwick Tower in the 14th century and the ‘Fearless Fenwicks’ were known for their battle cry ‘A Fenwick! A Fenwick!’ In the following 700 years we have figured prominently in Border affairs and have owned and lost many great estates. Surely worthy of the shortlist!
Benedict Fenwick
By email
Digestible science
Sir: Ysenda Maxtone Graham paints a gloomy picture of arts-minded children who would rather be studying humanities being forced to swallow indigestible doses of science at very expensive schools (Independent Schools Guide, 10 March). It need not be the case: all of our pupils study the same amount of science, with the most able scientists gaining three IGCSEs and the remainder two grades in dual award IGCSE. Both routes provide a fine preparation for studying A-level science subjects, while those who do not pursue physics, chemistry or biology beyond 16 still gain a thorough grounding in all three. This leaves plenty of time to study at least one modern language and three or four other subjects — be they humanities, classical languages, creative arts or a mixture. Parents should ask hard questions of schools that cannot offer this flexibility.
Ben Cooper
Director of studies, Uppingham School
Rutland
Ace cadet
Sir: I very much enjoyed Will Gore’s piece on army life at school (Independent Schools Guide, 10 March). But he’s too modest when he describes himself as ‘the worst recruit in the CCF’s proud history’. As it happens, I remember going on Corps weekend with him at Bradfield College in the 1990s, and he was nowhere near as hopeless as he claims. He may have hated sentry duty, but he was a diligent guard. I’ll never forget him ordering me not to smoke because the glow of my cigarette in the dark might give away our position to the enemy.
Ben Hooper
London W14
Health warning
Sir: Tim Jaques (Letters, 10 March) offers an interesting recipe for controlling children on long journeys. However I must advise against giving children under 16 an aspirin as there remains the potential for them to develop the often fatal Reye’s syndrome as a result.
Dr Ben Burrows
Bristol
Saving your neck
Sir: The solution to A.N. Wilson’s ‘broiler-chicken throat’ problem (Diary, 10 March) is the cravat. It provides complete coverage of the offending area, is very comfortable to wear and sets the wearer apart from the conventional herd.
Lewin Huckstepp
Henley-on-Thames
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