It's time to support those at the front

Back home in Keighley his family and friends will be having their own thoughts, along with dozens of others in our very midst whose loved ones are at war.

Trooper Paul says he is aware of the challenges he may face, but it is what he joined the Army for.

A wide variety of views on the rights and wrongs of the military action have been expressed, with nationally known peace protesters at the forefront of local opinion.

People, young and old, from across all communities, races and creeds have had a platform to express those views. But at the end of the day a democratic vote was taken in favour of war.

There are two things we must do at home as the fighting unfolds. First we must give all of the support we can to the servicemen and women and their families.

If anyone is in doubt about their needs they should heed the rousing words of Lt Colonel Tim Collins, who addressed troops on the eve of battle.

Let us hope and pray that the action is swift, with minimum military and civilian losses.

Secondly, it is vital that as a complete community we remain calm.

Keighley's religious and community leaders are all of one voice in their calls for restraint. The Rev Gordon Webb, chairman of Keighley Interfaith Group, stresses it would be a mistake to think of the conflict as a quarrel between Christians and Muslims. It is, he says, a conflict between Governments.

It should also be clearly understood that many within the Muslim community are against Saddam Hussein but are opposed to war.

Khadim Hussain of the Sangat Centre is absolutely right when he says that every individual has a right to demonstrate peacefully, but they must not act outside the law or behave provocatively.

Lt Colonel Collins made it clear to his troops that they should respect Iraqi culture and religion and not confuse it with international terrorism.

In our own way we should echo that sentiment, and should continue to treat each other with respect even though our views may differ.