Madam, - Your correspondents Dermot Meleady and Ben Weatherill (October 24th) put the case for a positive spin on the Iraqi war. While much of what they write may be true, they appear to have overlooked several key aspects:
1. Neither the US nor Britain gave any priority to the "restoration of democracy" in the build-up to the invasion. This was merely an afterthought when the WMD issue collapsed.
2. Regardless of the support or otherwise for elections or constitutions, they are inevitably invalid once held under the auspices of an occupying power, more especially where war is raging as the polls are held.
3. Much of the Iraqi population want all foreign forces to leave quickly, as their lives have not improved under occupation. Consequently, their votes in elections, referendums, etc may simply be a case of "Armalite in one hand, ballot-box in the other".
Dreadful atrocities have been committed in Iraq by all sides, but the ultimate brutality may be the total disintegration of the country, with all its subsequent horrors. - Yours, etc,
DENIS KENNY, Knockauns, Thurles, Co Tipperary.