I read with interest your former reporter Grant Hodgson's experiences in post-war Iraq (The Argus, August 28).

The tragedy of the bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad, killing the UN's special envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello, brings home to us all that the war is over but winning the peace is not.

The bomb killed at least 23 people and injured hundreds more. These people were dedicated to peace and saving lives.

There are daily reports of American and British troops being killed while serving in Iraq.

Anyone in Iraq can become the victim of a terrorist attack and there are still many problems to be faced by the Iraqi people as they struggle towards democracy.

Likewise, the coalition still has many problems to face as the recovery has been seriously hampered by looting.

Many innocent Iraqis are being killed by nervous US soldiers who are constantly under threat of attack.

Iraqis are glad to be free of Saddam but are under no illusion about the difficulties still to overcome to achieve democracy.

I have always believed that not enough thought went into post-war Iraq and I think what is happening there now is proof of this belief.

-Steve Fuller, Hove