EARLIER this year, we, with the USA, invaded Iraq. By the the end of May, 9,000 had been killed. After that we stopped counting.

Most of those killed were not politically active -- just like us. They were office and factory workers, farmers and their families -- just like us.

Were these ordinary people from a small poor country far away really a threat to us here in Lancashire? Without doubt, they were killed in our name.

I did not object to the war. I carry some responsibility for its bloody consequence. On November 20, US President George Bush is to visit the UK to ask our government for its support in the next war against Syria or Iran. Afghanistan was 2002. Iraq was 2003. Next year is another war.

Our system of government requires us to tell our MPs what we believe.

If we do not instruct them to object to the next war the innocent bodies will again be pierced in our name, with our tacit support, with our connivance.

IAN BINNS, Hey Meadow Farm, Edenfield.