REAPING what we sow (A Martin, June 9) skilfully captures the link between the migrating refugee symptom with the causal conflicts.

The perceptive analysis links US oil wars of exploitation as being the underlying cause of the crisis we see in Calais. One notes the UK playing the role of poodle to the US attack dog in recent decades.

However it has not always been so. Dorset has a curious link to dark deeds that sowed the seeds of ISIS. In 1916 the Dorset regiment was in Iraq on the real first gulf oil war, this one against the Ottoman Empire. We suffered a humiliating defeat at Kut and many a brave Dorset lad died in the fighting and forced to march as prisoners.

We could not defeat the Ottomans.

Divide and conquer then prevailed. We found a violent but marginalised sect who followed a strict version of Islam and whose creed authorised killing other Muslims. Our Dorset hero Laurence of Arabia helped foster and arm this militant band, with French help. They helped us turn the tide of the Middle Eastern war to our advantage. In the past this Wahhabi/Salafi group had been held in check by more moderate Muslim forces. Now the genie was out of the bottle. We helped establish the Saudi kingdom and, having secured the oil supply, protected them as they spread their Wahhabi/Salafist teachings across the region.

In the Second World War our Pyrrhic victory saw real power shift from the UK to the US. Now we are the vassal state, airstrip one, in the weaker role.

However we would do well to recall our past history that destabilised the Middle East. Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.

Jon Orrell

Coldharbour

Chickerell