ONCE again, Jack Straw is in denial over the war with Iraq (LT, September 30).

He tells us that the new leader of the Labour Party, Ed Miliband “was making no criticism of those who made the decision”.

Tens of thousands of Iraqis dead, Al Qaeda given a foothold in a country where they had no previous influence, Iran a bigger threat than it ever was, terrorist threats becoming the norm – and the whole exercise regularly described as the best recruiting platform for Al Qaeda and the worst UK foreign policy decision in living memory.

Ed Miliband might offer no criticism but as more and more evidence arises of the subterfuge of politicians who played a part in this disastrous war, then those who backed New Labour go less and less and those who believe it was wrong for a number of reasons increase.

In 1939, the UK stood alone against the most powerful and cruellest army on the planet and chose to fight the Nazis rather than surrender, even though the United States refused to join them at that time.

It took courage and statesmanship to take that stand.

The decision to invade Iraq was the opposite, with UK meekly doing the United States’ bidding.

Two questions for Mr Straw: would he have advocated the Invasion without United States involvement?

And how much longer is Jack Straw going to defend the indefensible?

DON RISHTON, Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn.