Mick Hartley

While looking through the latest Private Eye, and wondering whether it’s still worth buying, I was pleasantly surprised to see their lead letter this issue (not online):

Sir, I am a UK citizen of Iraqi origin and have been a keen reader of Private Eye for many years. I have supported the war on Iraq as it was the only option available for removing the dictatorship in Iraq. I have been in Iraq recently after 21 years of exile and can assure you that despite all difficulties, the majority of Iraqis are happy with the change in Iraq, oppose the violence of the insurgents and feel optimistic about the future of Iraq.

I note with regret that you keep attacking Bush and Blair regarding the war in Iraq despite the fact that the coalition forces, supported by so many countries, are doing their best to help establish democracy in Iraq. You even had space to publish alleged corruption by the INC but you never seem to bother mentioning anything about the dark forces of Muqtada Al-Sadr, the former regime agents and the Al-Qaeda agents who have already caused huge suffering in Iraq and who intend to turn the country back to the days of tyranny.

More importantly, you never mention anything about the negative rule of most of the Arab media, particularly Al-Jazeera, and their direct colluding with the insurgents. This was clearly evident in recent pictures of kidnapping of foreign hostages. I find this surprising from a satirical paper which keeps a watchful eye on what other media outlets publish.