FEW Arab leaders have much enthusiasm for the evil Saddam Hussein and they would not be sorry to see him go.

Saddam's biographers have written that he wants to be recognised as a great leader who unites the Arab people. It will be ironic if the war to "liberate the oppressed people of Iraq" is the catalyst to unite the Arab people, thereby in a perverse way granting his wish.

The demonstrations in the Middle East show the people of these countries are now united against what they see as an invasion of an Arab country.

As the days of conflict go by, it is obvious the politicians have miscalculated many things, not least the reactions of the people of neighbouring countries.

Every day that the Arab television companies show pictures of the collateral damage inflicted on the Iraqi people, animosity towards the United Kingdom and the US will increase.

The situation fills me with apprehension. The attitude of Bush and Rumsfeld is diabolical and frightening, especially now they are saying "the Syrians will be held to account" for allegedly supplying arms to the people of Iraq.

What is going to happen next?

I support British service personnel and I pray for a speedy end to the war, but I expect things will only get worse.

I wonder if Mr Blair is now having second thoughts about having committed us to this war?

G Alderson,

Maple Grove,

York.

Updated: 10:59 Wednesday, April 02, 2003