NOW that the Bush and Blair bandwagon is over, it is time to reflect on the continuing debate and protests about the Iraq war. The Bush visit has to be viewed with dispassion and with objective criticism, for it is one thing to be anti-Bush and Blair, which is fully justifiable, but it is an entirely different matter to be anti-American which the predictable anti-war/CND/Rent-a-mob of protesters are capitalising upon.

We must not forget the debt we - and Europe in particular - owe to the American support during the Second World War and the aftermath of the Cold War when the USA provided indispensable financial, moral and physical support.

It is, however perfectly right to criticise Presidents Bush and Blair and the extravagant, obscene and unjustifiable public relations junket of the recent visit involving so much expenditure which could have been spent on far worthier causes.

We should be pressurising Bush and Blair to withdraw from Iraq and allow the Iraqis to run their own country to sort out their problems with their neighbouring Muslim countries.

David W Wright,

Little Lane,

Easingwold.

...YOUR correspondents, David Lyon (November 22) and Derek Martin (November 25), call the York Against the War (YAW) marchers on November 19 "anti-American". They have confused being anti-American, ie irrationally prejudiced against the US, with being justifiably opposed to American policies. This is not anti-American - quite the reverse! What are friends for, if not to tell you when you're wrong?

Mr Martin calls us the "Save Saddam Brigade". I deplore Saddam as a tyrant, as do all YAW members. I deplored Saddam in the 1980s when American politicians, including George Bush Snr and Donald Rumsfeld, sold him weapons of mass destruction and overlooked his atrocities. That really was a Save Saddam Brigade. Did you oppose them, Mr Martin?

Mr Lyon is fairer-minded, but his world view is simplistic: the free world is minding its democratic business, when evil people attack us. Doesn't he realise it's not our freedom and democracy that offend people in the Middle East, but our endless, often violent and often wholly illegal intrusions into their affairs, which have killed thousands. Terrorism is the war of the poor: war is the terrorism of the rich.

Mr Martin's revenge fantasies I can easily ignore, but not his strange claim that one of the organisers of the York march "is known for wanting to flood this country with the sons of Islam". Nothing wrong with the sons of Islam, but who and what do you mean, Mr Martin? In a good American phrase, put up or shut up!

John Heawood,

Eastward Avenue,

Fulford,

York.

...YET another outpouring of bile from Derek Martin.

It is as unfair and offensive to blame Muslims for the actions of al-Qaida as it would be to blame Christians for the actions of fringe terror groups in Northern Ireland.

In fact, while it may have escaped Mr Martin's notice, most of the victims of the Istanbul bombings were innocent Muslims. Most of us, whatever our faith, simply want to live in peace withour war or terror.

As for the implication that anti-war protesters are easily duped or misled, that really is an insult to the intelligence of the 300 York people who turned out last week and the 3,000 who joined the local demonstration in March, all of whom made the choice to take part.

Perhaps Mr Martin needs to learn to accept that it is possible for people of good conscience to disagree, and that we all have the right to free speech?

Ben Drake,

Danum Road,

Fulford,

York.

...HOW dare R Westmoreland call George Bush a dangerous terrorist and a moron (Letters, November 15). Who does he think he is to be so insulting and degrading of the President of the USA - our friend and ally?

Peacefully demonstrate by all means - but don't be so insulting.

Has he forgotten that the USA have often helped us out, eg Second World War - and are against terrorism in all shapes and forms?

I suggest he goes out to Iraq or Afghanistan and helps them out and takes some UK protesters with him!

Bryan R Lawson,

Burton Fields Road,

Stamford Bridge, York.

...IF the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who were raped, tortured, mutilated and murdered by the Saddam Hussein regime could have the choice, would they be cheering the so-called "peace protesters" or would they be wishing to their God that Bush junior and Blair had been in power in the Gulf War?

Stephen Feaster,

Chairman, Ryedale Branch, UK Independence Party.

Cropton,

Pickering.

Updated: 11:55 Monday, December 01, 2003