THE Arab nation is more than a collection of countries. One of the focus points which unites them is Israel. This is why peace in Palestine is important. In Iraq, Arab nationalism, as well as Iraqi nationalism, fuels the resistance against the coalition.

That is why the occupation of Fallujah is a waste of time, as the unrest will only be fuelled in other cities. Nor will the resistance stop until the occupation by the coalition is ended.

Northern Ireland taught us that terrorism (or nationalism) only needs a modicum of support in the population. Ultimately, we had to make a political peace. The same applies in Iraq, with urgency.

The troops in Iraq are wasting their time. No matter how many there were no difference would be made. They should return.

The US economy requires oil reserves the size of Saudi reserves. These were found in Iraq, which makes the occupation a smash-and-grab raid. So phoney excuses about WMD were invented.

Economies based on burning oil are bringing about global warming, and must be a dead end.

So far more than 100,000 men, women and children lie dead because of Tony Blair and his friend Bush. Their fake elections to decide a constitution give no hope to either Iraq or us. Blair and his cabinet of sycophants should be tried in the Hague for what they have done.

Chris Clayton,

Hempland Drive, York.

Updated: 11:30 Friday, November 19, 2004