Sir, To set an arbitrary deadline of one year for the withdrawal of our forces from Iraq (Comment, January 29) is evident nonsense. Of course we would wish to see our forces withdrawn once the job is done, but that will depend entirely on how long it takes to complete the task. We must stay the course, however long it takes, and until the Iraqis wish us to go. The stakes are too high to do otherwise. Success in Iraq, leaving the Iraqis free and with a thriving democracy, would be priceless. Conversely, failure would be catastrophic — for the whole of the Western world, and all the countries in the Middle East.

I have been deeply impressed by the Iraqis we have heard and read about over the last few days, saying how excited they were at the prospect of being able to vote for their future leaders, and how determined they were to go out and cast their votes in spite of the evident dangers. It seems to me that they have more steel in their spines than some of our home-grown experts.

The next few days and weeks are going to be dangerous but, if the elections in Iraq prove a success, as I believe they will, there are many critics of Bush and Blair, including those in old Europe, who will have to eat their words.

I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
MARTIN GARROD,
2 Royal Buildings, The Strand,
Walmer, Deal, Kent CT14 7HD.
January 29.

From Mr Ron Osmond

Sir, If Bush and Blair had followed the advice of Robin Cook, Lord Hurd of Westwell and Sir Menzies Campbell, there would be no elections, no acts of astonishing bravery from Iraqi citizens determined to vote, no hope at all of a democratic and free future, however distant that may seem at the moment.

Instead, Saddam would now be entrenched in power with sanctions lifted and the freedom to use his oil revenues to fund his plan for a renewed and expanded WMD programme.

Yours faithfully,
RON OSMOND,
56 Stoneygate Drive,
Hinckley, Leicestershire LE10 1DT.
ron.osmond@ntlworld.com
January 30.

From Mr Iain Murray

Sir, Anatole Kaletsky (Comment, January 27) suggests that Tony Blair’s agreement to support the US in Iraq should have been made conditional on American support for action on climate change.

I somehow suspect that those who have regretted the loss of life there might not have been placated by the knowledge that the sacrifice secured American involvement in greenhouse gas-emission trading schemes.

Sincerely,
IAIN MURRAY,
(Senior Fellow, International Policy),
Competitive Enterprise Institute,
1001 Connecticut Avenue,
Washington DC 20036.
imurray@cei.org
January 27.

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