DAY 12, and the bloody reality of this war is sinking in. Neither generals nor the general public had anticipated the fierceness of the Iraqi resistance.

The belief that once our tanks rolled in, their forces would roll over now looks absurdly optimistic. Iraq's troops are fighting hard. The expected internal uprising against Saddam Hussein is not happening. Iraqis will not easily forget the first Gulf War, when the Western alliance encouraged the population to rise against Saddam then abandoned them to his terrible revenge.

At home, a million peace marchers have dispersed, to be replaced by a hard core of demonstrators. In York, the 200 people who took part in a "die-in" in Newgate Market are still crying "Stop The War".

Robin Cook popped up at the weekend saying something similar. His ill-judged call for the withdrawal of British troops, and the clumsy retraction which followed, have all but obliterated the acclaim he earned for his dignified exit from government.

The fact is, the war cannot be stopped. That argument was lost 12 days ago.

Right now, British troops are facing hostile fire. The only soldiers to have come home have done so in body bags. More will die before their work is done.

British fighting forces deserve our greatest respect and our fullest support. That support has found public expression in the weekly demonstration by two York families with relatives in the Gulf. Theirs is a simple statement of solidarity which reflects a widespread feeling. Many ordinary people wish they could do more.

By simply uniting behind the troops, we can offer comfort to forces families. To them, the remorseless coverage of the war is 24-hour rolling torture, each new casualty count watched through meshed fingers.

That is why we suggested the creation of a support group for relatives in our area. We hope it might rescue them from their isolation, and provide a focal point for the groundswell of support directed at British soldiers on the front line.

Updated: 10:38 Monday, March 31, 2003