FROM provincial hacks and the mega-stars of journalism we are deluged in wisdom about the war in Iraq.

We get half-baked opinions from people who have never been to the country, never served in the armed forces and have no real knowledge of the subject, but have no difficulty shooting off their mouths from the comfort of their office stool.

They would do well to heed the words of Mark Twain: "Better to keep the mouth shut and appear stupid, than to open it and remove all doubt."

Robert Holmes,

Thorganby,

York.

Updated: 10:28 Wednesday, April 23, 2003