I DON'T think George Davies (Letters, August 2) is correct when he accused Jack Straw of supplying 'arms or parts of weapons' which are being used for the purpose of internal repression.

Surely, they would have had to be used against the people of the country which imported them -- Israel -- to qualify for that. Israel is using these planes against those who send suicide bombers who have said they want to destroy the state of Israel.

Sadly, it is true what Mr Davies says about the Palestinians, including nine children being killed by an Israeli rocket, but does he not expect them to retaliate when Palestinian suicide bombers indiscriminately target innocent people, including children in places where they are about their legitimate business?

Coupled with that, I would state that no political struggle can justify training small children to be used as suicide bombers. And let us not forget all those innocent people in the USA who were victims of suicide bombers on September 11.

Having said that, I am completely opposed to any military action against Iraq, as not only would it result in an enormous number of lives being lost but the whole of the Middle East would be thrown into turmoil and instability, threatening the West's standard of living and lifestyle by the loss of adequate oil supplies.

ALBERT MORRIS, Clement View, Nelson.