Right to march
From Cathy Vale Sir: After attending the Stop the War Coalition demonstration on 20 November, I read your leading article of 15 November with interest. I was struck by the omission of certain information. This is that America and Britain have invaded another country without a clear rationale for doing so. No link between al-Oa'eda and Saddam Hussein's regime has been established and there is still no evidence that the Iraqi regime was a threat to global stability. It was disquiet over Britain's involvement in the invasion that led me to attend the protest. (Incidentally, a significant portion of protesters, including myself, fell into none of the stereotyped categories mentioned in the article. We were not all peace campaigners, anti-globalisation protesters or assorted anarchists!) The article drew a comparison between the response to Bush and that shown to visiting dictators. Perhaps Bush's visit received more protest because the British government is providing him with overt support and military assistance, a privilege that was not extended to the dictators. As to whether Iraq is a better place than it was under the Baathists, I imagine that question can only be answered by those living there. The answer is not obvious to the outside observer.
Cathy Vale
London SE3
From Chris Simms Sir: I made the mistake of walking through Trafalgar Square on Thursday evening. The people who turned out for the latest demonstration are not peace protesters; they are demonstrating hatred. They think emotionally, not rationally, and never offer any kind of alternative plan of action, merely challenging those that are put forward. What do they think would happen lithe forces pulled out of Iraq now? There would be unmitigated chaos. They don't seem to care about the lives of soldiers, those that die in terrorist attacks or the Iraqi people.
Bush may not be the most intelligent of politicians, and he is an easy target for comedy, but the belief that everything he does must be evil and wrong is infantile. As you point out, the anti-Bush gang pushes for freedom of speech and freedom of expression, yet opposes the 'liberation' of the Iraqi people. The agenda here has nothing to do with the war; it's all about being anti-politics and anti-capitalist.
On Friday morning, Trafalgar Square was full of rubbish and the water in the fountains was dyed red. I'm sick of the disruption in this country; marching is destructive not constructive, a vehicle for vandals and anarchists (both leftand right-wing) rather than any kind of positive message or constructive action.
The crux of the matter is that no one with any influence is listening. The demonstrators are doing nothing apart from wasting taxpayers' money, police time, vandalising national treasures and contributing to the disintegration of this country's heritage and reputation. If they were to express their opinions with thousands of letters to MPs, then maybe something would be done, but shouting 'Bush, go home!' will get you nothing more than a sore throat.
Chris Simms
London SE18
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