WAR ON IRAQ: I TRAVELLED with my family to the anti-war demonstration in London last Saturday. It was cold and dull and, inevitably, the huge number of people made progress frustratingly slow.

We had misgivings about finding ourselves amongst a group of loony anarchistic troublemakers. We couldn't have been more wrong about the people on the march and the police were as gentle and careful as shepherds. We have never encountered so many well-behaved, peace-loving and kind-hearted people. I will not forget the experience.

But will the unprecedented scale of the protest move the Government to accept that the majority do not want an unjust war to protect US oil interests?

This excerpt from John Prescott's speech to the Labour Party conference in Glasgow on the same day seems to say it all. "History teaches us that actions against humanity by evil people in defiance of international law cannot always be stopped by persuasion, by intellectual appeal, by economic sanctions or even dire threat." Quite so. - Carl Watson, Darlington.

THE massive parades against the war with Iraq show how people could express their views. How many Iraqis could express their views on the ten years war with Iran and the invasion of Kuwait? - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

HOW can we trust America? In September 1940 we were on our own against Germany, expected to submit. The only help we got from America was on September 3, 1940, when we were given 40 destroyers on condition that we gave America full control of all naval and air bases in the western hemisphere on a 99-year lease.

Now a third world war is planned, what does this mean for the installation at Fylingdales? This is to protect America. If Japan had not attacked America at Pearl Harbour, America would not have entered the war. Who can one trust? - Alf Pyle, Kellow.

THANK goodness for this calm and intelligent approach by the leaders of Old Europe. Instead of insults and snide remarks, the present American administration should heed European opinion and cease behaving like petulant children who are determined to have their way.

Bin Laden is the target. Saddam will keep while more investigation is carried out. - GH Grieveson, Richmond.

IT IS interesting to note the difference in police handling of protestors and supporters when the miners' strike was happening and the latest anti-war protests. Mrs Thatcher would have the buses intercepted, the protestors banged on the head and generally thwarted. People have taken advantage of the present Government's more liberal attitude to moan and protest about everything except the weather (except when the roads are snowy). - F Atkinson, Shincliffe.

I CAN only compare Saddam with Hitler. Another murderous dictator with territorial ambitions. He could have been stopped in 1935 but appeasement was the order of the day. When war broke out in 1939, it took six years and cost millions of lives.

That war could not have been won without America. Jacques Chirac appears to have forgotten how many GIs lost their lives to liberate France.

The Allied forces cannot stay in Kuwait indefinitely. If they withdrew what would Saddam do? Kick the inspectors out again?

The reason France and Russia are against the war is that they are the two biggest trading partners of Iraq and have the most to lose.

It would be a comfort to think that one could get an honest view from the UN, but unfortunately, that is not the case. Any result from that body is a result of bargaining between countries.

No sane person wants war, but if my head rules over my heart I feel that Saddam should be stopped now to prevent a bigger disaster in the future. - K Peacock, Hurworth Place, Darlington.

A DEBT of gratitude is owed to those who marched for peace. It is highly unlikely that the hawks in Washington will be moved in any way by the millions who marched throughout the world.

People in Britain cannot be held responsible for America's actions. We are, though, responsible for what is done in our name by the British Government.

Our fellow Europeans are opposed to what amounts to the annexation of Iraq. The pressure must be stepped up on our politicians to reverse Government policies on this issue.

Our support for America's war aims must be withdrawn before it is too late. New Labour was not elected to take this country to war nor was it elected to turn it into an outpost of the American empire.

If the Government thinks that public opinion will change once hostilities have begun, it is deluding itself. It is up to the doves within the Labour Party to rid us of Mr Bush's puppet and give us true government from Westminster not Washington. - Name and address supplied, County Durham.

THE British public are the most politically naive race of people on the face of the Earth.

The country has been decimated for decades, investment in health and education slashed, overrun by asylum seekers, cities and towns ruled by drug barons, law and order collapsing, criminals and vandals rewarded under an insidious human rights act. And we are governed by faceless, unelected European bureaucrats.

Mr Blair and Mr Bush are right to rid the world of evil tyrants like Saddam Hussein, an evil mass murderer who threatens world peace.

The peace protestors have not suggested one credible or principled idea to rid the world of this lunatic. If they pontificate he is so pure and the West is so evil, why don't they emigrate to Iraq?

I am sure in this politically-correct age their sick and unemployment benefits, mobility and invalid care allowance, housing benefits and community charge rebates, student grants and tax credits could be paid into some Iraqi ghetto post office. - B Cain, Wheatley Hill.