WITH respect to Mr Antony Haworth (Letters, February 1), I was puzzled as to how Lady Olga Maitland was privy to the alarming figure of 350,000 Iraqi nationals residing in Great Britain? She must be privileged indeed, when the government does not know the true figure of entrants (or does it?)

One has to consider if this is yet another rumour the propaganda spin doctors have released. If it is true and war does take place, they will outnumber what remains of our armed forces here. Being nationals, if they were to fight, would it not be here?

I suspect that the Government is not as green as our land, if a more recent rumour doing the rounds of the hostelries, mosques, etc., is true, that large numbers of containment compounds are being built across the length and breadth of Britain, in isolated areas, to contain the influx of immigrants (asylum seekers) etc., for the duration of any conflict.

Echoes of 1939/40, or just propaganda? Where does truth begin and spin end?

R HARVEY-MORGAN, Barnes Avenue, Rawtenstall.