WATCHING the impending Iraq crisis unfold I, like many, have satellite television and access to over a dozen news channels from all over the world, I am struck by the blatant right wing propaganda of such channels as Fox news. Any democrat (when allowed on) with a salient point regarding the war is derided and lambasted. They have now stuck their claws into Hans Blix because he blotted the US timetable for war.

I read recently that 44 million Americans cannot read or write above a fourth grade level. In other words, they are functioning illiterates. These couch potatoes are being spoon-fed this pro-Bush, pro-war, anti-French rhetoric on a daily basis. It almost beggars belief.

The US network TV channel Foxnews is just as bad as any state-run Arabic television station. Surely this isn't the same network that gives us the brilliant Simpsons. I'm glad we in the UK are given a well balanced diet of news. Even the minnow Channel 5's evening news bulletin on the Iraq crisis is to be greatly admired.

TOM HORWAT

Upavon Court

Penhill

Swindon