GORDON Brown's statement that our purpose in Afghanistan is to "prevent terrorism coming to the streets of Britain" doesn't hold much water. Numerous illegal immigrants have been "permitted" to flood our nation since New Labour took office in 1997 and it would be a ramshackle terrorist organisation that did not take advantage of this situation.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if a number of terrorist "sleepers" were already staffing our points of entry, recruiting, waiting for an opportune moment such as the Olympic Games.

We are in Afghanistan because the USA has us over a barrel. If we pull out, Nato will break up, the USA will turn its back on Europe and we will be left without the USA's protective umbrella – impotent, because all three branches of our armed forces have been starved of cash from the day New Labour took office and Gordon Brown became Chancellor; a charge thrown at him last week by Lord Guthrie, a former head of the armed forces.

Hence the price we are now paying – our troops in Afghanistan being blown to bits because they don't have the numbers or the helicopters.

The Taliban will then take over Pakistan, where they already have a foothold, and gain control of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. Israel, in all probability, will become a vacant lot, with the UK and the USA taking blows.

Why doesn't Gordon Brown wise up and give our forces what they need? He didn't hesitate to protect and rescue the banks.

It seems our patriotic PM would much prefer to spend £1 million of taxpayers' money on building a jail in Nigeria to British standards to house Nigerian-born convicts whose crimes were committed in the UK. Jails in Nigeria are considered so rough that any prisoners the UK tried to deport could oppose their removal on human rights grounds.

But our troops have rights too.

Tony Jago

Falmouth

Making it worse

I SUPPOSE we should be pleased to hear that the Government has at last decided to do something about TB in badgers.

Unfortunately, its choice of "doing something" will only make matters worse unless the diseased badgers are culled: vaccinating a badger with TB will not cure it, but will make it far more infectious, thus making it far more likely to infect more badgers and other animals, including cows.

After all, it won't be possible to catch all the badgers to be vaccinated and the odds are that the healthy ones will be the ones that escape vaccination but still come into contact with the sick ones.

If it possible for this Government to make a decision that will make things worse, it will do it – after all, one just has to look at the way it has handled the economy.

Michael Ashton

Torrington

Diehard metal fan

IN reply to Monica Thorne's letter (June 30) I wouldn't lose any sleep over Jackie Butler's remark about Tony Christie.

I had a similar experience while watching Wimbledon, when an interview with one of the Williams sisters was broadcast and the interviewer was asking her about the death of Michael Jackson as she was a friend of his – then made the sweeping generalisation that everyone liked Michael Jackson's music. WHAT?

I certainly don't – I'm a diehard metal fan and have been since 1985. My blood boiled on the spot, but I'm OK now.

But I guess we won't be seeing Monica at the White Rabbit in Bretonside, Plymouth, at the end of the month.

Richard Oakey

Torpoint

Mature candidates

THERE is much discussion about the rights and wrongs of MPs taking other jobs. If they do not have work experience, how can they understand the difficulties faced by their constituents?

One prospective candidate is hoping the election is not called soon, as she is not yet 18.

On the other hand, it is argued that being an MP should be a full-time job and they should be committed fully to serving their country and constituents. The solution could be to accept only those over 35 as candidates.

William Scott

North Berwick, East Lothian

Don't free Biggs

I AM amazed that Colin Richey, of Tiverton, has the audacity to suggest that Ronnie Biggs should be released. On what grounds – real grounds? Perhaps he should consider the facts. He made no reference to the subsequent death of the innocent train driver.

Second, why did Biggs return to this country? Simple, he ran out of money. He knew that "do-gooders" like Colin Richey would eventually fight for his release.

How, years before, did he dodge extradition? Simple, get somebody pregnant – it didn't really matter who. Did he serve his prison sentence? Of course not. No, he should feel fortunate that he is in a prison system that pampers its inmates.

If, by a tragic twist in this story, Biggs is released there should be one proviso – he should be allowed to travel under his own steam, using his money, back to Rio and let the people who helped him spend his ill-gotten gains look after him – not by using any taxpayers' money.

Mike Bennett

Barnstaple

Ban has backing

IN your article "Foxhunting ban 'harms animal welfare'" (June 29) you quote East Devon Conservative Hugo Swire as saying: "It was always just another attack on rural and farming communities. It is a pernicious and vindictive Act."

It might be useful for Mr Swire to consider the findings of a recent Ipsos MORI poll which revealed that 71 per cent of people in rural areas support the Hunting Act 2004.

Clearly Mr Swire has been spending too much time at Westminster and needs to reconnect with his constituents during the recess.

Matt Fox

Campaigner League Against Cruel Sports