A DECADE ago, Tony Blair came out with his claims that Iraq could attack the UK with chemical and biological weapons within 45 minutes.

As we now know, this claim was based on fictitious evidence and was used to justify to the British public an illegal invasion of Iraq, which eventually resulted in 1.2 million premature deaths.

Now we have David Cameron claiming that: “Iran’s drive to develop a (nuclear) bomb is a direct threat to the UK.”

What is wrong with this claim? Well, as US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta admitted on February 28: “Iran hasn’t made a decision to develop a nuclear weapon.”

The only evidence so far is that Iran is enriching uranium up to 20 per cent for medical purposes, treatment of cancer, nowhere near the 90 per cent plus for a nuclear bomb.

Besides let’s be realistic, even if Iran wanted nuclear weapons and obtained one, would they attack the UK or anywhere else, knowing full well they would be obliterated?

Iran hasn’t actually attacked another country for 300 years and they have at least twice called on the UN to make the entire Middle East nuclear weapon-free, a motion defeated by the US and Israel.

So why is Cameron making such ridiculous claims which inevitably have the side effect of making gas prices go even higher, just as Tony Blair did before him?

The answer is to support US objectives of controlling the supply of gas, oil and required pipeline locations and ensuring that the US dollar continues to be used for energy trade.

These reasons not only apply to Iraq and to Afghanistan but to the troubles in Yemen, Somalia, Libya, Syria and to the threats made against Iran and Venezuela.

R LEE (Mr), Burford Road, Witney