Madam, - I wonder where Kevin Myers is coming from when he claims that the recent invasion of Iraq - not war, as it involved the mightiest armies in the world against a country incapable of defending itself against such "weapons of mass destruction" - was not waged against the people of Iraq. It was only against Saddam Hussein, was it? As far as is known to date, he was not killed; but thousands of Iraqis were. Perhaps Kevin Myers can explain to the relatives of those killed and injured that, really, this attack was not on them, but on Saddam Hussein?
Mr Myers is fairly generous with his statistics regarding the evil perpetuated by Saddam Hussein. Why stop at "hundreds of thousands of politically suspect people being arrested, tortured and murdered?" Maybe it was millions? Kuwait was not seized by Iraq. Part of Iraq, which had been invaded by Kuwait, was taken back (after clearing through diplomatic channels with the US) and the army was on the way home when the Gulf War started. No one is claiming that Saddam Hussein was a nice gentlemen - such do not last long in the Middle East - but he could be considered a minor dictator compared with those supported by the US in South American countries.
If the evidence was there that the US had changed its foreign policy and was intent only on eliminating "evil in its most pure and uncontaminated sense" in overthrowing Saddam and his sons, I personally would still say it was not worth the loss of life incurred to date and that likely to occur in the future. However, it will take a lot to convince those critical of past US actions in installing Pinochet in Chile, the generals in El Salvador, overthrowing the democratically elected government in Nicaragua, etc. etc., that the leopard has really changed its spots. - Yours, etc.,
Mrs MARY STEWART, Ardeskin, Donegal Town.