Sir, The criticism of Norman Kember is most unfair. Kember went to Iraq to witness at first hand the effect of his Government’s foreign policy on Iraq. That there is a great need of such independent witness has been clearly demonstrated by the revelations of abuses at Abu Ghraib prison and elsewhere. Surely a democratic country such as Britain claims to be, should not object to the monitoring of the behaviour of the troops acting in our name?

I have heard many accounts of totally unacceptable behaviour of troops in Iraq from personal friends whose veracity I cannot doubt, yet because there was no independent Western witness with a camera or video recorder present at the time the reports are deemed anecdotal. Kember’s intention was to discover for himself the truth of such claims.

Neither should it be forgotten that there are thousands of devout Christians in Iraq who deserve a voice.

As for the accusations that British soldiers’ lives were put at risk in rescuing him, may I remind readers that it was Blair and the British Government who sent them to war and put them “in harm’s way”. It is a measure of Blair’s miscalculation when he stated that the presence of British troops in Iraq would make that country a safer place, that no one, least of all the Iraqis themselves, is now safe.

Norman Kember is a courageous man, one who abhors war and is prepared to stand by his convictions, not for personal profit but to improve the lot of human beings everywhere. He deserves our admiration and respect.

JUNE SMITH
Birmingham

Sir, You report that the Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) did not thank Norman Kember’s rescuers (Mar 25). Fortunately there were no casualties among those who risked their lives to save him. The CPT should be sent the bill for the operation and told that in future they will be on their own.

NEIL GRANT
Congham, Norfolk

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