DUNCAN Allison writes as if our troops had not heard, as we all did, the arguments for and against war before it was declared (March 22).

Servicemen and women are no different from the rest of us. Some will believe this is a just war, others will think it is wrong.

It is insulting to them to imagine they should think the reasons for opposing the war cease to be valid once fighting begins.

They are professionals, they will do the job they have been given.

It is the politicians who called the war and who want an end to protests. It makes them uneasy. None of them, of course, will be fighting.

The answer to Alan Lewis's question (also March 22) is in the history books of the Second World War. The sad truth is that we did just shrug and say "tough luck" to those Germans Hitler was torturing and killing. We even refused them asylum.

We went to war with Hitler's Germany because we had a defence treaty with Poland. The United States came into the war much later, because it had been attacked by Japan. It is an illusion to think we declared war on Hitler for humanitarian reasons.

Martin Biggs,

Caedmon Close, York.

...I AGREE with Duncan Allison. At this time our troops need our full support. It enrages me to see so many selfish, extreme people protesting when most of them don't understand the situation anyway.

Young people, who appear to be protesting the most, are especially vulnerable to biased newspapers. In Iraq people wouldn't have this freedom to protest.

Although war is always the worst way, I wish people would look at the positives of this situation rather than just the negatives. To the protesters I say: "Not in my name".

Mike Holden, 18,

Longcroft,

Wigginton, York.

...DUNCAN Allison states that peace protesters are "traitors to the country". Well, that's fair enough - people have the right to express their opinions because this is ostensibly a free country.

If the situation in Iraq means so much to you, why aren't you serving in the Gulf with your friends?

You ought to be more worried about the evil tyrants in Washington and London than the one in Baghdad.

Bush and Blair have proved they are no better than Saddam Hussein.

My second question is for all the armchair generals. Before you were brainwashed by the Bush-Blair axis of propaganda, what perceived threat did Iraq pose to the national security of the UK?

While British troops are in the Gulf to do the job they are trained for, and I hope they all return home as soon as possible, I find it difficult to give them my support when they are nothing more than mercenaries for Uncle Sam. I certainly can't - and won't - support the "cause" they are fighting for.

Dr Simon Ward,

Barons Crescent,

Copmanthorpe, York.

...I AM saddened by various comments in the Evening Press about the Iraq war.

Last week Hugh Bayley, our active and good MP, was loaded with the tired clichs for not giving the future safety of our country into French hands: he's a poodle; he rolls over; he has no bottle.

If I accept that the MP for Selby voted "with a heavy heart" against the Government, then Mr Bayley will have had an equally heavy heart when, after having far more information than we have, he supported the Government.

This week we read that we drive cars, eat junk food and watch trash on American orders; that Russia, China, Germany and France now occupy the moral high ground and the USA and Britain should sustain "a few severe bruises" before we manage to end Saddam's favourite pastime of killing his own people.

"Severe bruises" meaning our soldiers and civilians dying? These hateful sentiments will not build a decent, post-war Iraq. Let us fund-raise for that future and get banks to open accounts for post-Saddam Iraq.

A C M Kent,

St Paul's Square,

York.

...I WRITE to a newspaper for the first time ever in my 68 years to express my utter disgust at the words written by Colin Jeffrey (March 24).

He hopes Britain sustains a few more deaths among our armed services before they manage to complete their objective.

What sort of person can write such words?

What type of newspaper would print them?

I realise there is no chance that you would print this, but I am sure I speak for most of the British people on this issue.

RW Waring,

Elvington Park,

York.

Updated: 10:37 Thursday, March 27, 2003