I THINK that President George W Bush has made a grave error in deciding to send an extra 21,500 combat troops to Iraq.

The Iraq Study Group, after much thought and discussion, called on the Bush administration to adopt a different approach and policy towards the troubles in Iraq.

Bush has decided to ignore that advice and the advice coming from many of his senior generals.

The violence, bloodshed and loss of life will now get even worse in 2007 for both Iraqis and US and allied servicemen.

Like Vietnam, this war is unwinnable by conventional military means.

The only thing that might placate the insurgents and might stop the civil war, is if the USA and her immediate allies cease the occupation of Iraq and withdraw all their forces. The USA would also have to engage in talks with all Iraq's neighbours, including Iran and Syria, and try to agree on some international force overseeing the return to stability.

The newly trained and re-equipped Iraqi army would have to patrol and govern (with strict guidelines) all three major areas currently run by the Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis. This is a massively difficult and delicate task, but it has more chance of succeeding than a larger American military presence.

Bush's latest policy idea will almost certainly put British troops in even greater danger and we should be looking to withdraw 100 per cent before the end of 2007. This is not simply a case of cut and run, but a realistic assessment of the position facing the Western alliance.

David Quarrie, Lynden Way, Acomb, York.