UNLIKE David Thomas, I think the capture of Saddam Hussein was important for morale. Nowadays, nations do not declare war; they engage in hostilities.

Hostilities have continually occurred in Iraq since it became a nation over 80 years ago by warlords against minorities.

Highlights included the use of bombers and armoured cars under Britain's mandate against warlords, the defeat of Rachid Ali who supported Germany in the Second World War and the assassination of the young King Faisal by the warlord Qassem, who was himself assassinated a year later.

Hostilities were resumed by Saddam Hussein invading Iran and Kuwait. Instead of defeating his regime then, we allowed him to massacre large numbers of Kurds and Marsh Arabs.

We retaliated with trade sanctions and by invading Iraqi airspace.

The United States and Britain decided this action was not effective and that Saddam should be removed by land invasion, which should have been done when we drove his army out of Kuwait.

Terrorism adds another dimension to hostilities as it requires only simple weaponry with operators willing to commit suicide.

Terrorists threaten existing regimes in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as Western powers, though there is sympathy with attacks on Israel.

Imprisonment of suspected terrorists is needed to reduce the risk they pose; we imprisoned Oswald Mosley in 1939 though he was not a terrorist.

All nations dislike being controlled by other nations, whether they are called US, UK or UN.

In terrorists, the Ba'ath party have useful allies in their aim to recreate the great Arab Empire founded in the seventh century.

Such an aim, if allowed to proceed, would cause enormous bloodshed.

C COPLAND-GRIFFITHS

Wingfield

Trowbridge