Wholly unacceptable war (From Western Telegraph)

Wholly unacceptable war

Dear Editor, - I am fully in agreement with your Comment (Letters, September 18th) regarding war against Iraq. I also agree with the line being taken by Jackie Lawrence MP ('MP Warns Against War With Iraq', September 18th).

The war-mongering policy of the USA seems to be getting unqualified support from Tony Blair, against public opinion in UK, without the authority of Parliament, against all main religious organisations, and trade unions. This is fanaticism reminiscent of Anthony Eden at the time of Suez in 1956 - autocratic not democratic.

War is not some game. War kills people and often ordinary civilians in greater numbers than armed forces, leaving a legacy of instability for decades afterwards.

We should be supporting moves to reduce the Middle East crisis which already exists - the aggression against and occupation of Palestinian territory by Israel. War against Iraq will only exacerbate the instability of the region.

War-mongering has not been the consensus policy in Britain nor pre-emptive strikes against a possible threat. Tony Blair's policy is a betrayal of those who lost their lives in World War II fighting for freedom and democracy.

Rather than supporting the extremist Government of USA, we should align ourselves with the more enlightened EU countries. We should not be out of step with them.

Apart from these considerations, the cost of war would cripple the economy and retard the gradually improving public services and infrastructure of the UK.

Tony Blair must be stopped from committing UK to participating in a wholly unacceptable war.

DAVID R. REES 22 Maes yr Hedydd, St Davids.