18th of March 2003 - Iraq

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX

Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@hotmail.com

18th of March 2003

FOR PUBLICATION:

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Sir,

As a Conservative, I am appalled at the current supine attitude of Ian Duncan Smith over the Iraq situation. Instead of meekly supporting Blair and Bush, he should be wholeheartedly opposing British participation in this ludicrous enterprise.

To participate in a war will benefit only the USA whilst bringing opprobrium upon us from Islamic countries and making us the target of terrorist attacks. It will cost taxpayers billions of pounds in direct expenditure not to mention the damage done to share prices and our economy. In terms of the UK's self interest, there is absolutely nothing in it for us.

Even if I could believe that this is a humanitarian enterprise to free Iraq from tyranny (a tyranny which we in the West financed and supported when it suited us), the life of one Iraqi child is not worth the death of a British soldier, or a penny on our taxes.

Not in our name? Not at our expense!

Sincerely,


John E Douglas