THE differences between members of the Seager/Dixon family reflect divided opinion throughout Britain about war with Iraq.

Last night's House of Commons vote also highlighted the split in views with Peter Pike and Gordon Prentice among the 121 Labour MPs who made clear that they believe the case for war is "as yet unproven"

The stark difference, of course, between most of us and Dieter Seager and Steven Dixon is that we can discuss such politics in the comparative warmth and comfort our homes safe in the knowledge that the only immediate effects of war are likely to be a rise in petrol prices.

For Steven Dixon, a gunner in the Royal Artillery, war means much more. He is in Kuwait ready to lay his most precious possession, his life, on the line.

He is doing it in the belief that the world community has to stop evil tyrant Saddam Hussein making his own people suffer and threatening his neighbours.

Dieter is in Jordan ready to travel into Iraq to become part of a so-called human shield of protesters against any bombing. Anti war protest is a well established tradition and has had profound influence for example during the Vietnam conflict.

But it is wrong to think that this human shield will do anything but provide Saddam Hussein - a man who would think nothing of executing anyone who protested against him in his own country - with a propaganda gift.