IF the war brings British-style democracy to Iraq, that for many will justify it and the horrors it has caused. For that we must wait.

Of all the reasons for starting the war given by Tony Blair, this is the only one that has not yet been proved to be wrong. We can all hope that it will prove to be true, even if experience suggests that it is highly unlikely.

You can't impose democracy on another nation by force of arms. It doesn't matter how sincerely Tony Blair believes you can, history demonstrates that you can't.

We have democracy in Europe because for thousands of years we have forced our secular and religious rulers to grant us, bit by bit, our human rights.

The people of the different nations of Europe inspired each other and helped each other. The Middle East does not have that history.

Talk of "restoring" democracy to Iraq is self-delusion; it never has been democratic.

Our worry must be that the US will "liberate" Iraq as it "liberated" Cuba from Spain a hundred years ago. It will force them to swap one dictator for a series of others.

The type of "democratic" ruler favoured by successive US administrations does not inspire confidence. US proteges include thugs like Battista of Cuba, Mobutu of the Congo, Somosa of Nicaragua and Pinochet of Chile.

But whoever they choose for Iraq, it will not generate acceptance by Iraqis of the "democracy" imposed by Bush and Blair.

Real democracy starts with men like Gandhi and Mandela, rising up from the people, not with fly, global businessmen or defecting generals imposed by a foreign invader.

Maurice Vassie,

Cartmans Cottage,

Deighton,

York.

Updated: 16:58 Friday, April 11, 2003