Hellbent on war

No evidence of Iraqi involvement in the Twin Towers attacks has ever been produced. Tony Blair and George Bush proceeded to threaten Iraq with military force.

In May this year, Blair suggested that there would be no war with Iraq if Saddam Hussein allowed UN weapons inspections. "If he lets the weapons inspectors back in unconditionally, anywhere, any time, any place, then of course that makes a difference. But there's absolutely no sign that he's prepared to do so." Saddam agreed to give UN weapons inspectors unconditional access. Blair and Bush continue to threaten war. This week Blair said that allowing unlimited weapons inspections was not enough for Iraq to avoid being bombed.

Can there now be any doubt that Tony Blair is determined to follow George Bush into war, despite the fact that Iraq poses no real threat to Britain? The consequences of this war will be appalling. Many thousands of Iraqi civilians will die, and many more will be killed and injured by unexploded cluster bombs in the years to come. Cancers and fatal birth defects caused by the dust from depleted uranium shells will become even more prevalent in future generations. Islamist extremists will exploit the justified outrage of Muslims across the world. This will increase the likelihood of terrorist attacks on the West.

Tony Blair does not have the support of his party, of the majority of the British public, or of the international community, but that is unlikely to deter him. The only sensible course of action now for anyone opposed to this war is to demonstrate. On February 15, hundreds of thousands of ordinary people will be travelling to London to voice their opposition to Bush and Blair. At the same time in capital cities all over the world, literally millions of people will be marching against this unnecessary and unjust war. It is our moral responsibility to join them.

John Greenwood

St Paul's Place

Halliwell

Bolton