Like Winifred Smith (Letters, June 10), I was moved by the coverage of the D-Day commemorations but I can't believe she argued Tony Blair and Geoff Hoon should not have been present at the events in Normandy.

Whoever held the offices of Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Defence at the time of this anniversary would have been condemned for not representing the nation and paying their respects at these events. It is a shame Mrs Smith feels she has to use these solemn acts of remembrance to score political points.

Mrs Smith is quite wrong to say Tony Blair and Geoff Hoon have not visited Iraq. They have.

She is also wrong, I believe, to suggest they or, indeed, any leader would send young men and women off to fight and possibly die for their country without agonising over that decision and having it weigh upon their conscience.

For many years Tony Blair was criticised for being led by public opinion and focus groups and not having the courage of his convictions. Having had the conviction to go to war in Iraq, he is now condemned for ignoring one section of the public.

As with Normandy, he is damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.

-Gavin Kennedy, Hove