I FULLY endorse the opinion of Jayne Venables (Letters, November 27) regarding the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Iraq was completely unnecessary and Afghanistan is completely unwinnable. I will give my next vote to the first politician who has the guts to pull our forces out immediately.

As an ex-serviceman (1959-1982), however, I cannot support her regarding L/cpl Glenton.

Army units rely on the reliability of soldiers at all levels, from platoon to battalion level. He is letting his fellow soldiers down by committing the most heinous crime a soldier can, that of desertion.

I suggest he make his courageous stand once he has completed the tour of duty that he signed up for and swore an oath of allegiance to the Queen.

Peter Roberts, Thornhills, Haxby, York.