Title: a song by the Knickerbockers

It goes:

"Lies, lies,
I can't believe a thing you say,"

and this is evidenced by today's letters to the Editor in the Sydney Morning Herald, recognising those who, unlike VVB, will put their full name to their views...

So, the Cole inquiry reveals that planning for the Iraq war, that black stain on our
generation, was known by the Howard Government from early 2002 ("AWB knew Iraq
invasion plans", November 23). Not only does this show that John Howard, Alexander Downer and the rest of the cabinet were in on this, but all efforts to avoid war using diplomacy and UN weapons inspections were a charade.

We cannot undo what has been done in our names by our elected hypocrites. But we
owe the innocent dead of Iraq one thing: to get rid of these bald-faced liars at the ballot box. Kim Beazley might have a problem with prolix. He might talk too much. He might even forget the names of minor celebrities. But now, in the harsh light of the Government's duplicity, I would trust Krusty the Clown with the keys to the Lodge before I would vote for Howard.
Richard Paulin, North Ryde

Are John Howard and Alexander Downer going to ask the public to believe that an AWB manager knew 12 months before the Government that we would be in a coalition with the US to invade Iraq? That's one porky that'll take a lot of chewing to swallow.
Seth Richardson, Chippendale

So, AWB's then chairman, Trevor Flugge, knew the Government would participate in military action with the US to overthrow Saddam Hussein a year before the invasion took place, having been given unusual access to highly sensitive information. Meanwhile, John Howard was assuring Parliament and the electorate that no such plans existed. If he was lying to Australians while keeping his mates in the picture, who else knew?
Dick Harfield, Leichhardt

At least further evidence of prime ministerial duplicity still makes the front page, albeit in a small article in the bottom right-hand corner.
Ian Sanderson, Clareville

I suppose the problem is that although our UN ambassador knew in 2002 we were going to invade Iraq, no one told John Howard, Alexander Downer and Mark Vaile. The beauty of good bureaucrats: only tell the ministers what they want to know.
Selwyn Suchet, St Ives

More evidence Mr Howard lied about Iraq. This is outrageous. Come on, everyone, we must put a stop to this at the next election. Hang on, what's that? Interest rates are going to rise? Best leave it, then. My five-year-old McMansion needs renovating.
Ross Cariola, Leichhardt

Yes, come on everyone.