I cannot understand people who are against George Bush and Tony Blair's stand on Saddam Hussein.

They criticise the US for dropping atomic bombs on Japan in the Second World War but forget this was a nation that invaded China, killing hundreds of thousands.

Then, without warning and without declaring war, Japan bombed Pearl Harbour, again killing thousands, and went on to invade other countries in the Far East, raping and killing, mostly civilians.

Yes, most of those killed by the atomic bombs were civilians, too, but these were, no doubt, the same civilians who rejoiced at Japanese victories. Japan had the chance to surrender after the first bomb was dropped but chose not to.

The dropping of the bombs ended the war, thus saving many Allied lives and, no doubt, changing the Japanese to the lovely and charming people they now are.

The world needs a powerful country with a strong leader to keep people such as Saddam Hussein in check and we should be grateful we have a leader such as Bush, backed by Blair, to do just that. To do nothing is to risk everything.

-Colin Wadey, Ridgeway Close, Southwick