I was concerned about several points raised in Voice Of The Argus ("Democracy at risk", September 12).

While the US isn't at war, its foreign policy supports, finances and supplies wars in places, such as Israel and Colombia, in which it has an interest.

The statement that the US does not intend to be at war is ridiculous. President Bush has stated the US is at war and reparations will be taken. Given previous US actions, this certainly means somewhere will be bombed.

My main point concerns the insinuation the protests planned at the Labour Party Conference will require security essential "to preserve the lives of politicians and democracy itself".

Would The Argus be insinuating that Globalise Resistance, the Green Party, the Socialist Alliance, trade unionists and journalists who support this protest are planning terrorist actions?

The protest is a political event designed to highlight the growing discontent with many issues, such as NMD, privatisation of services and third-world debt. It has been called to remind Labour that one in four people voting for the party in the General Election does not give it a mandate to do whatever it wishes.

It is planned as a peaceful event and a protest bringing together large groups of people who have different political interests and aims.

-Paul Williamson, Pembroke Crescent, Hove