31/03/03

The US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has the neck to declare that Iraq is in violation of the Geneva Convention on the treatment of prisoners of war by showing them on television.

This from two countries who have just abandoned the United Nations and attacked another country and slaughtered its inhabitants without identifiable cause or mercy.

It has the chutzpah of the young man who murdered his parents then pleaded for mercy on the grounds that he was an orphan.

Can anybody tell me how a government led by a so-called New Labour Party can ally itself with an American government which is slightly to the right of Genghis Khan?

Can anybody with a social conscience stay a member of this wretched party? Clare Short will presumably now find her fulfilment in having us pay for the destroyed lives, fatherless children and the rebuilding of cities (to US standards, of course) which existed long before the Western world.

I suspect that without Tony Blair's encouragement this butchery might never have happened. - Willis Collinson, Durham.

I AM distressed at the loss of life which has already occurred in the early days of Tony Blair's reckless adventure in Iraq. My sincere sympathy to the families of all the young men who have been sacrificed for dubious political reasons.

But the purpose of this letter is to protest strongly about the way in which the conflict has been covered by the media. I am not alone in being appalled by the way television seems to be treating coverage as entertainment.

The descriptive reporting, using adjectival extremes and lurid expressions, is quite sickening. There is a lot of gloating and bragging in the reporting. It surely isn't necessary to liken aerial bombardment which kills and maims innocents to gigantic November 5 fireworks displays, or to compare the conflict to an action movie?

This is a war which should never have been started in the face of such national and international protest, but the gung-ho statements from military leaders, politicians and the media now that it is under way is really distressing. - K Bradley, Darlington.

CT RILEY (HAS, Mar 28) makes an interesting point concerning the sale of oil, but this raises questions I have as to what Britain will get out of this war?

Although oil will pay for Iraq's reconstruction and reparations for the financial cost to America for launching this war, Britain won't see a penny of this as America has made it clear that such work be contracted solely to American firms.

If all goes to plan Britain will have equal credit in the liberation of Iraq, be we all know that Hollywood will reduce and even write the British contribution out of history.

Britain will certainly become a target for terrorists unable to get to America, and could face being shunned by the international community. Long before invading Iraq, America ensured it had immunity from prosecution, but Britain doesn't, leading to the possibility that Britain could find herself on trial for the actions of America. - HE Smith, Spennymoor.

MATURE political judgements are way beyond the capability of those anti-war protestors, according to columnist Peter Mullen.

He couldn't even stand the sight of this motley crew parading near his home in London. Oh dear.

Britain's decision to invade Iraq and get shot of dictator Saddam Hussein was far from a sound political judgement. We are talking about America abusing its unprecedented military might. This is not the way to do it, Mr Mullen. So, so much for your own political judgement, dear sir.

Post-war America is going to end up despised all over the Middle East. Why? Nobody loves a bully.

Governing post-war Iraq is going to pose more problems than enough. Just you wait and see for yourself Mr Mullen. So much for George Bush's and Tony Blair's questionably sound political judgement. - Alfred H Lister, Guisborough.

IS the majority discovered by the latest poll really in favour of the war in Iraq or is it rather in favour of supporting our troops now that they are engaged in it?

I suspect the real attitude was expressed on a banner carried by some schoolchildren in a recent demonstration. "Support our boys, not Blair and Bush."

The war is wrong, but that is the responsibility of the politicians who started it, not the troops who fight it and they have our prayers for a speedy and as near bloodless victory as may be, whatever our other reservations. - Rev TJ Towers, Langley Park.

WHEN Tony Blair was first elected it was said he went to Mrs Thatcher for advice.

I am sure she said to him when the economy is failing try and engineer some kind of conflict which will take the people's minds elsewhere.

The Falklands War could have been averted.

Our economy is going pear-shaped and Mr Blair thought: why not have a military conflict to keep me afloat. He has gambled with our country's reputation and the lives of our servicemen.

Due to America's overwhelming military might he will no doubt bask in the ensuring victory, but what has he lost in the process?

He has split the country apart, he has virtually destroyed the Labour Party as we knew it and what the outcome of the next election will be is anybody's guess.

If Labour is bad, the Tories are even worse, which leaves the Liberal Democrats under Charles Kennedy. What a glorious opportunity for them to make huge gains at the expense of the two major parties.

If only Mr Kennedy could inspire people as Paddy Ashdown could. The British public usually fall for the Thatchers and Blairs of this world who only get found out when it is too late. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.