I HAVE so far quietly observed the unravelling scandal of Bill Clinton's fire-fighting approach to the allegations made against him by Monica Lewinsky.

I even took note of Fred Shawcross (Letters, September 23) and his xenophobic references to American mentality.

I agree that the authority of Bill Clinton has been so seriously undermined that I would have trouble trusting him with my own sister, let alone the most powerful nation on earth.

My reasons for this lack of trust, however, differ somewhat, from the small-minded voyeuristic public and media thirst for moral accountability regarding his sexual relations.

I realise that, as a leader and aspiration role model, his lack of principles in this respect have seen his position irreparably compromised.

The real issue for me is less that he was weak enough to allow himself to be tempted into consensus sex beyond conjugal relations and more that he looked the world in the eye and lied about it in a deliberate attempt to mislead.

He can hide that in all the legal technicalities he can muster, but, as far as I am concerned, this man, who represents millions of people, knew full well what 'sexual relations' meant, his wife knows it, and the people he represents know it.

I just hope that his interpretation of the recent bombings of Sudan and Afghanistan fall more into line with public perceptions of justifiable action than his previous attempt.

Though if I had an array of sources available to answer that question, I would pay little credence to his version of events.

P A GOGGINS, Royshaw Avenue, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.