WITH constant exposure to scenes of "shock and awe" on TV, we may have lost sight why the Allies declared war on Iraq in the first place.

If they now fail to find evidence of weapons contravening UN Resolution 1441, would they withdraw and hand back Iraq to its former rulers? Not likely.

With little possibility of a return to normality in the region, it is interesting to note how the British forces have controlled the humanitarian crisis.

Food and other aid has been distributed very well -- so well that the population of Umm Qasr swelled from 15,000 to 40,000 in a number of hours.

This annoyed the US administration, who were clearly unhappy at the situation. Perhaps, for them, aid could have been better used as a bargaining tool.

Contrary to reports of fierce battles in the war, the US has been left baffled at the tactics employed by the Iraqi forces -- hit and run, rather than a serious bogged-down engagement.

After all, with Tony Blair's policy promise of the "hearts and minds," they had nothing to lose, so it seems.

The US controlling the oil and a rebuilding programme, albeit with loans from the International Monetary Fund, will generate smiles for George Bush and Dick Cheney.

With forcibly imposing American interests around the world the losers, on their part, are silenced for the time being. More importantly, who's next on the hit list? Proud Syria, perhaps? If so, on what pretence?

This imperial over-confidence will sooner or later hit a brick wall. When it does, the doors to untold calamities will open on the world. The lessons of history are being ignored at great peril. I hope I'm wrong.

N MOMONIAT (Mr), (full address received).