LIKE R Waring (Letters March 27) I too was appalled by Colin Jeffrey's comments about the war with Iraq. How an Englishman can hope that Britain sustains a few more deaths among its armed services before their objective is complete is beyond me.

As each day passes, it becomes more and more obvious that the decision to go in and relieve the long-suffering of the poor Iraqi people was right.

Civilians fleeing Basra told how they were terrified of being butchered by Iraqi troops, who snatched children and threatened to execute them if they didn't fight. Stories of using civilians as human shields, and executing prisoners of war, leaves one speechless.

The letter from Dr Simon Ward (Letters March 27) also appalled me. How he can call two fine Christian men like George Bush and Tony Blair evil tyrants is disgraceful. They are doing what they really think is right, and they are both very brave men.

If Dr Ward is so concerned, I am annoyed that he has not gone out to Iraq to act as a human shield against the coalition, or perhaps tend to Saddam and his sick troops.

Bryan R Lawson,

Burton Fields Road,

Stamford Bridge,

York.

Updated: 10:50 Friday, April 04, 2003