Madam, - Once more spin has triumphed over substance. Regardless of the findings of the Hutton inquiry, it still remains a fact that Downing Street's suggestions for the "September Dossier" were designed to make a strong case for war based on limited and flawed intelligence. - Yours, etc.,
EAMONN TORSNEY,
Osaka,
Japan.
Madam - Given that heads are rolling at the BBC as a result of faulty reporting, can we assume the UK government and heads of its security services will resign if no weapons of mass destruction are found? What a Widgery - oops, I mean whitewash! - Yours, etc.,
BRIAN FLANAGAN,
Ardmeen Park,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
Madam, The Hutton Report has largely exonerated the UK government, damned standards in the BBC and debunked the media-generated conspiracy theories that have largely substituted for real journalism on this topic over the past several months.
I hope that all Irish-based media managers and journalists, particularly in RTÉ, study and digest his findings carefully.
If they do, we might hope to see and hear less of the prevalent interviewing technique, which is rude and adversarial, and also less of the smug, cynical, conspiratorial and often under-researched journalists who presenting themselves as expert commentators on almost any topic that arises.
However, I won't be surprised if most of the prove incapable of accepting fair criticism, but rather resort to peddling conspiracy theories that Lord Hutton was got at by the politicians and/or that the real issue about the war hasn't been addressed. - Yours, etc.,
PETER MOLLOY,
Haddington Park,
Glenageary,
Co Dublin.