Thank you for your letter about Iraq.

We should be very concerned about war and I have written comprehensively on the subject to many constituents, a previous letter which gave my views on the situation in the run up to the start of operations in Iraq is available to be seen on my website at www.crispinbluntmp.com, in the Articles section on 17th February.

I believe it is right to support the Prime Minister. My view is that the moral case for addressing the Iraq issue is overwhelming. Regrettably this has meant being prepared to use force.

The Prime Minister used a recent debate to lay out the Government's case and I am enclosing a copy of his speech for you, (the whole debate can be accessed at www.parliament.uk, click on Hansard, daily debates, Tuesday 18th March, debates, scroll down to Iraq). It begins with the Motion that the House of Commons subsequently approved by 412 votes to 149.

There is no evidence that the use of depleted uranium rounds has the wider health consequences claimed for it in the article. Coalition forces must always be able to use the most appropriate weapons against a given target. Depleted uranium is very hard and heavy, therefore making it an effective penetrator of armour. We must not lose sight of the fact that our troops are now assigned to this operation and are in a very dangerous situation. As a former soldier I am very aware that properly used, appropriate weaponry will reduce the risk of casualties amongst our own forces.

We can and must continue to try to minimise civilian casualties, whatever weapons we use, however Iraqi forces show no such scruples which is why we cannot afford to falter in our resolve to defeat this brutal regime.

We must now hope that military operations are completed as quickly as possible and with minimum casualties to both sides. The article is correct to point out that many Iraqis will feel they are fighting to defend their country rather than their government. So did many Germans in 1945. It was still right to replace their government and put them back on the road to decent self government.