What we have had since UN Resolution 1441 is intense activity by inspectors that has identified a few souped-up Scuds, some documents whose significance is unclear and some empty shells.

There may be more to be found. The inspectors want more time but will not get it.

Tony Blair has said he would try for a more explicit UN resolution but might go to war anyway if this was stopped by an "irrational" veto.

The second resolution has been withdrawn. It is clear it would not have had enough support for any veto to sound irrational. Perhaps it would have lost a straight vote.

Why are we in this shameful situation? The reasons are purely tactical. Bush wants to occupy Iraq, not disarm it.

To do that, he needs ground troops and the generals do not want to campaign in Iraq during the heat of summer.

I don't say Iraq has no weapons of mass destruction. If it has and they are primed for use, the biggest fear is that Saddam Hussein will throw everything he has at the allied forces in the short time before everything is thrown at him. He doesn't have much to lose.

Let us all congratulate Robin Cook on his resignation and his clear-headed speech and pull back from the brink of this madness before it is too late.

-Peter T Garratt, London Road, Brighton