I have this to say to Daniel Lake, the 17-year-old who wrote in support of the war (Letters, February 21): perhaps, one starlit night in the future, you will find yourself lying in the sand in the Middle East and observing the barbed wire around your sleeping mates, wondering if a terrorist is trying to slip through. You may, as I have, think what the hell am I doing here?

I volunteered for the Forces to help defend England against Germans and Japs, but as usual the politicians did the lying and the Service people did the dying.

If you wish to sort out Saddam, go and do it you and anyone else who wants to help Dubya Bush grab Iraq's oil.

Because that's what all this is about, the black energy under the Middle East's sand. If it wasn't, the Yanks wouldn't want to know about Iraq and that's a fact.

There are lots of ways to die, none very pleasant and there are lots of politicians and generals who will soon put you in a position where you can. If you are prepared to put your life on the line, make sure you know the facts. Lots of Americans didn't in Vietnam. Daniel, switch your brain on before putting pen to paper, please.

Let the Arabs sort out their own affairs. We have plenty of problems of our own to sort out in Europe.

A THIPTHORPE

Kirkstall Close

Toothill