SIR - Permit me to reply to David Lawson, who seems to have misconstrued my comments in order to give credence to his criticisms (T&A, May 11).

Nowhere in my letter did I suggest that the indigenous populace of Iraq should take up arms, only that they give logistical support to allied forces who after all remain there at the request of their elected government.

Mr Lawson should also remember that Saddam Hussein not only massacred Iraqi Kurds but disposed of thousands who dared oppose his tyrannical rule. Moreover, democracy is not imposed but achieved and he should know better than to patronise a nation by saying that they had "relative stability" under a despot.

They now have what he's always had choice.

David Rhodes, Croscombe Walk, Bradford