THESE days horror is piled upon horror. But, for barbarism, it can hardly be worse than an American helicopter firing on a crowd of civilians in a Baghdad street.

We saw much of it on TV from our armchairs. It is part of the war in our name.

That last point is crucial. If we agree with the war (like thousands of others, I don't) it is supposed to be a joint US/UK initiative. A conservative estimate puts the number of civilian deaths so far at 12,000, possibly much higher. It is a strange way to liberate a country.

Tony Blair, as much as President Bush, is responsible. But as the brutalities continue we seem to have no hand in the decision-making.

There have been brutalities on both sides. But the "insurgents" (people objecting to a foreign invasion) had nothing to do with 9/11, or with "45 minutes" for WMDs; we had no business to be there, and no right to kill people as if they were of no account.

Someone must rein in the Americans. When will Tony Blair, the Foreign Secretary and the Minister of Defence show their hands? Every other day we hear of helicopter attacks on dwelling-houses with "collateral damage". Oh, these good "Christian" statesmen of ours!

Roy Stevens,

Willow Bank,

New Earswick, York.

Updated: 10:05 Thursday, September 16, 2004