Sir, President Bush has declared Iraq “the latest battlefield” in the war against terrorism in attempting to dismiss the anarchy that has engulfed Iraq since the invasion by American and British forces (report, June 29).

Time, surely, for someone intelligent within the US Administration to remind Mr Bush that, prior to the invasion, Iraq was not a sponsor of terrorism, regionally or internationally. Today’s terrorism, destabilisation and anarchy in Iraq are the products of the thoughtless, gung-ho removal of Saddam Hussein.

MIKE ABBOTT
Kew, Surrey

From Mr Simon Murray

Sir, Mr Percy Mistry (letter, June 27) reflects the sentiments of many when he argues for “a framework of law permitting the international community to remove repugnant leaderships and regimes bent on perpetrating crimes against humanity”.

The international bodies are weak, lacking in leadership and divided on all issues. The United Nations charter anyway states that it will not interfere with internal issues of members.

Human rights abuses are invariably internal. The Europeans dallied over Bosnia for eight years before the American intervention.

Only the United States acts and when it does, we condemn rather than applaud it. The Americans protected Europe for 50 years and the petty, ambitious little men of Europe still berate them. Wait for the day when America says “enough is enough” of being the world’s policeman and watch what North Korea, Iran and others get up to then.

SIMON MURRAY
Westminster, London

From Mr Tony Thorn

Sir, In a chillingly prophetic analysis shortly before the Allied invasion of Iraq, John Major appeared on the Breakfast with Frost programme and warned of the very great danger posed by Messrs Bush and Blair instigating an horrific domino effect of death and destruction — including the destabilisation of the Middle East — which they would be increasingly unable to control.

He doubted the existence of an endgame strategy, cautioning against the creation of a political and religious vacuum in this multi-ethnic country, and of the opportunity such a void would also present to anti-Western terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda to wreak their havoc.

Two years later his warnings have come to fruition with unbelievable accuracy. Following the invasion, which has cost many thousands of lives, Bush and Blair are impotent to bring to an end the current bloody anarchy which their irresponsible actions set in train. Two years ago, Bush boasted of “victory” and his generals talked glibly of “mopping up” the “last remnants” of insurgency opposition.

Is it not incredible that both of these leaders have subsequently secured the endorsement of their respective electorates?

Perhaps that says far more about the political naivety of the American and British people than it does about two men who led their nations so incompetently into a disaster.

TONY THORN
Bordon, Hampshire

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