THOSE against war with Iraq seem to have some weaknesses in their argument that they are unable, or unwilling, to confront

The anti-war camp itself seems to be split into two ? the ?never a war? group and the not without a UN resolution? group.

The weakness of the first group lies in their inability to suggest a viable alternative in the present circumstances. Any suggestion that outside pressure or sanctions are the road to follow fails to recognise that these, or similar, sanctions have been present for the last 12 years or so and have failed to bring about the safety of the region and the security of Iraqui people. Where would the peoples of Bosnia and Kosovo be now if we had followed the ?never a war? campaign?

The second group?s argument has, I?m afraid, been diluted by the political horse-dealing being carried out on all sides of the argument to gain support in the UN for their own resolution. Whatever the UN eventually votes for will be immediately ,and quite rightly, morally cancelled by the crying of ?foul? by the alternative camp.

This is just another example of the objectives of the UN being debased by political in-fighting as we have seen in recent times in central Africa and the Balkans where thousands of men, women and children were slaughtered by the supporters of a dictator whilst the UN stood by and were unable to protect them. So, whatever the vote, we can forget about the result in the Security Council at the UN.

Instead, perhaps we have to think almost the unthinkable in times of genocide and world security, and that is that if all else fails then the USA is the only power that we have available to use on our behalf. Whilst there will be many arguments against this I don?t think that an increase in genocide or a threat from weapons of mass destruction will be amongst them.

Bryan Podmore

47 Redmoor Close

Tavistock

IN a few days? time, this country is likely to be making war on Iraq. In the shock of the first 48 hours of onslaught by an estimated 800 cruise missiles, B52 bombers, each carrying many tons of bombs, and hundreds of air attacks against ground targets, thousands of innocent Iraqi men, women and children will be killed.

Prime Minister Blair and all those politicians who support him still do not have the evidence we have been promised for so long. They do not even have the partial UN approval they told us would justify the attack they advocate. They do not have the support of the majority of the people of this country. The Labour Party is split on war with Iraq, the Liberal Democrats are wholly against, the Tory Party have been for all-out war even before Mr Blair, and the Greens are against, too.

And where are our local leaders? At West Devon Borough, they continue to lie low. At Tavistock Town Council, they attempted to muffle the voice of those who are fighting for peace, and failed because of popular support. Only our local MP, John Burnett, has taken a public stand.

Yet this war will cost at least £2.5-billion, which could go into public services. Fuel costs could rise; the value of investments and personal pensions could be hit; interest rates and cost of mortgages could go up; the British economy could slide into recession; unemployment could rise. West Devon?s economy is vulnerable enough without this war. With war, it could take years to recover.

So why are our local politicians silent? Write to them, e-mail them, phone them with your views. Ask them their views. Get them to speak out against the coming war.

Alex Wood

4 Kilworthy Hill

Tavistock