Human rights are not an issue for MI5
YOUR report that MI5 felt inhibited in sharing intelligence with the US because of "human rights" constraints is nothing more than orphic ("Human rights gagged MI5 over jet bomber", News, last week). Human rights laws do not prevent such exchanges - although they are often used as an excuse and fig leaf for failure.
MI5's alleged involvement in the torture of, for example, Binyam Mohamed makes clear that even if such constraints exist, the security services have few, if any, qualms about transgressing human-rights norms and standards where terrorism is concerned.
Mark Stephens
London E11
Difference of opinion
MI5 prevented the file on the Christmas Day bomber from being passed to the CIA for fear of infringing his human rights. At the same time, we are told the French are about to pass a law that will mean a fine of £700 for someone wearing the burqa. Do the French have a different set of human rights laws from ours? Is this yet another case of Whitehall gold-plating?
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David Lindsey
Haddenham, Buckinghamshire
Freedom of information
In your excellent article "Now Hoon savages PM over Afghan war" (News, last week) Jonathan Oliver writes: "The former defence secretary is expected to be asked about his battles with Brown when he appears before the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war. Should he choose to disclose the full details of the clashes over military resources to the inquiry panel, the result could damage Brown." Surely the former defence secretary is obliged to disclose full details if asked.
Gerard Kelly
Horton Heath, Hampshire
Military action
If Geoff Hoon was "repeatedly prevented" by Gordon Brown from purchasing "vital military helicopters", it raises the question: why did he not resign at the time?
Alan Smith
North Berwick, East Lothian