I was most concerned by Ivor Caplin's poor understanding of the term "democracy" in his letter (October 23).

Let me remind him there was massive public opposition to the invasion and occupation of Iraq and that the UN Security Council's rejection of resolution 1441 made this act illegal.

Yet the Labour Government, with little regard for "democracy", arrogantly pressed on with its warmongering in the vain hope that it could draw more UN members into the US-led coalition.

The course of action Mr Caplin mentions - outlined in UN Resolution 1511 "paving the way for democracy" - could have been achieved with diplomacy, international unity and political pressure, without the need for a war incurring massive civilian casualties at a cost to British taxpayers' money and armed forces lives.

While trying to implement a democracy, there are suggestions that the Coalition has not met all the obligations under Articles 55 and 56 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Millions of civilians are facing diseases such as cholera and possible death due to inadequate access to water.

-Ian Poyser, Green Party Member, Hove