I AM writing to support E Hazell's opposition to Tony Blair's wild rush to lead us into a needless war. Nearly all the world's statesmen men of the calibre of Nelson Mandela realise the danger of the resulting chaos in the Middle East and have advised against the step, while opinion polls show the British people don't want it.

Yet Blair refuses to listen to the people, recall Parliament, or even consult his cabinet colleagues. With the backing of a few unelected cronies he is aiming to drag us into a war costing thousands of innocent lives, particularly those of the brave young people of our armed services.

And all this is in the name of democracy! Is Saddam the only crazed dictator riding roughshod over his people in this crisis? The danger to democracy is much nearer home.

I feel and I beg all those who oppose Blair's rush into war to write and so inform their MPs.

Roger J Barnes

Corby Avenue

Swindon