I WOULD Like to congratulate you on your articles and editorial comment (January 27) on the threat of war in Iraq, and to endorse your conclusion that "we do need some kind of cast-iron proof of Saddam's evil intent before hell is unleashed".

I would, however, like to point out an error in David Crookes' report when he says: "... the UN did find a stash of chemical warheads in an Iraqi bunker". These were empty cases and no trace of chemicals was found with them.

He also mentions the fact that some commentators "believe terrorists would see any declaration of war as justification for raining terror on towns and cities across Britain and America". Even Bush and Blair admit that there is no proven link between Iraq and al-Qa'eda.

In quoting a statement by Ruth Kelly, Labour MP for Bolton West, he reported her as saying "No one is in any doubt about the brutal regime led by Saddam Hussein. He is a dictator who has not been afraid to use weapons of mass destruction -- he used them in the Iran-Iraq war".

What both David Crookes and Ruth Kelly omitted to say was that, during that war, Saddam was an ally of America, who provided him with both money and arms to fight that war!

Tony Blair and his cabinet colleagues (led by his trusty lieutenant Geoff Hoon) are quite happy to spend billions of our money in war preparations and the prosecution of that war, and yet are equally happy to condemn future generations of our young university students to life-long debts because they have not got the money to fund university education.

If war is declared, they will be sentencing thousands of Iraqi civilians to death by allied bombing and many of our armed forces to death or injury. Has Tony Blair considered suggesting to his 18-year-old son that he volunteer to join the other 18-year-olds who have no choice but to fight? Our Government is constantly reminding us that we live in a democracy, so now is the time for them to listen to the voice of the electorate who I am convinced are overwhelmingly against war with Iraq.

Mrs E M Lim

Rose Hill Drive

Bromley Cross

Bolton