LAST year, when plans to humiliate Iraq were converted to preparations for war, opposition was absent in Parliament and fragmented in the country.

Successive reports in the Times reveal that local people do reject this premeditated use of violence, and are upset by hypocrisy, the moral low ground on which we falter. Iraq is said to have weapons of mass destruction, but we certainly have more; Iraq is said to be a threat to us, but it is our government that prepares to invade .

The siege of Baghdad is now set, and unless Saddam succumbs, vicious attacks seem bound to follow. Britain need not be part of it. ?Ark Royal? and ?Ocean? could turn around and come home .

George Swayne

Lower Creason

Horndon, Peter Tavy