Article For Folkestone Herald

By

The Rt Hon Michael Howard QC MP

25 March 2003

Last week I wrote that by the time you read my column our forces could be in action in the Gulf. That did indeed prove to be the case.

I certainly do not know what stage the conflict will reach by the time you read these words. It is, I fear inevitable, that more lives will be lost, more injuries caused and more suffering endured. These are the wages of war.

Nevertheless, they are sacrifices that have to be made if the war is just, as I believe this one is.

Our servicemen and women are carrying out their duties with great distinction. We can all be very proud of what they are doing on our behalf and I am sure we would acknowledge the immense debt we owe them.

Clearly no-one knows how long this war will last. We grieve, particularly at British losses, but also at losses suffered by others, on all sides. We pray for a speedy and just peace. We hope the fighting will soon cease.

It is worth remembering that this is, in the words of Lt. Col. Tim Collins which have been so widely admired, a war of liberation not of conquest. It is a war fought to save lives, those likely to be lost if Saddam Hussein launched attacks on others in future, as he has done in the past. It is a war fought to make the region and the world safer and more peaceful.

One of the priorities is to provide humanitarian relief where it is needed, such as to the inhabitants of Basra. We have been pressing in Parliament for this to be achieved as soon as possible.

Meanwhile life at home continues. Our domestic problems have not gone away.

Last week I attended a meeting at New Romney Town Hall with representatives of the Highways Agency, local school children, councillors and others to discuss the safety (or lack of it) at the junction of Station Road, Church Road and the A259. A number of constructive suggestions were made, not least by the school children, and I hope the Highways Agency will be able to act on them.

These issues are very important. They must not be ignored.

But our thoughts and prayers are with our countrymen and women in the Gulf and their families. May they accomplish their objectives speedily and return home safe and soon.