THE looming possibility of war in Iraq continues to make political waves, not least with the threat of resignation from Clare Short, the International Development Secretary.

Yet beyond all the politicking, the heartfelt arguments for and against the conflict, lies the fate of our troops.

It cannot be easy to wait in the Gulf desert for a war which is causing such heated debate at home.

Troops manoeuvring for conflict will not be heartened by all the bitter debates from home. This is doubly so when stories persist about poor equipment, clothing and rations.

Thanks to the Internet and mobile phones, soldiers have been able to communicate their complaints, with many claiming food supplies were short and that key equipment, from desert boots to vehicle camouflage, had not arrived.

There have also been rumblings about troops having to eat US-style breakfasts of waffles and syrup, although sausages are now said to be making an appearance.

While important, these day-to-day disputes pale against the wider concerns for service personnel. Gulf war widow Anne Lennox articulates such fears in today's Evening Press when she talks of her concerns for the families of those preparing to fight.

Anne, who lives near Tadcaster, knows all too well the cost of war. Her RAF pilot husband, Squadron Leader Garry Lennox, was shot down over Iraq in the early days of the conflict 12 years ago.

She fears that a new war would see more casualties than the last Gulf conflict.

Her warning comes as an embattled Tony Blair was last night facing the possibility of a catastrophic rebellion after Ms Short said the Prime Minister was being "extraordinarily reckless" with the future of the Government.

Her dramatic intervention against the war will be a severe blow to Mr Blair.

Ms Short is often seen as the conscience of her party and she will be speaking for many Labour colleagues.

Yet while such important debates continue, we must not forget the perilous position of our troops.

Updated: 10:13 Monday, March 10, 2003