WHAT a loyal, if belicose, aide-de-camp Tony Blair is proving to be to the US presidents, be they Republican or Democrat. With such a father to inspire him it is not surprising to learn that one of Blair's sons is considering the army as a career.

A committed Christian, some had feared that Blair might have favoured, in a crisis, the 'turn the other cheek' option but he clearly prefers the Church militant response judging from his record of engagement in five wars during his five years as PM.

In the Sierra Leone conflict Britain acted alone, but in Kosovo, the Sudan, Iraq and Afghanistan we were surrogates of the USA. We have a cosy agreement with them: either of us can bomb Iraq when we feel like it. This has lasted some years. Since we only attack poor and underdeveloped states we have freedom of the skies, so take few risks and seldom suffer any casualties.

So we don't bother about peaceniks at the UN who seek evidence that would stand up in a court of law. We want war memorials but not here.

Of course the attack on the USA was criminal and heartless, but there is no conclusive evidence. We claim to be civilised but do not always act so might is not necessarily right.

DENNIS HERBERT,

Old Park Road,

Palmers Green.