SIR - The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, spoke with great wisdom and absolute clarity when he gave a public interview on the war in Lebanon.

He asked listeners to recall the responses of other nations to hostage-taking involving their own nationals (in this case two Israeli soldiers) and then to consider whether the Israeli government's decision to relentlessly bomb and shell a relatively powerless neighbour was an appropriate response.

He concluded by saying that around the globe Tony Blair stood alone with George Bush in failing to call for an immediate ceasefire, and that Tony Blair should think again.

The Israeli Air Force has already made more than 3,000 bombing runs across Lebanon killing civilians, systematically destroying the country's infrastructure, raising many residential areas to the ground and creating half a million refugees who have fled from their homes in fear. The United Nations emergency relief co-ordinator, Jan Egeland was visibly shocked when he saw the devastation, condemning Israel for "violating humanitarian law" over its blistering raids. America is currently rushing a shipment of more `smart' bombs to Israel so that they can continue to pound Lebanon.

Just like the West Bank and Gaza, just like Iraq, military intervention by vastly superior forces will not quash terrorism, but merely fuel the fires of resentment and hatred for America and Britain by Arabs and spawn more terrorists.

As the public resentment against the Israeli actions grows in the UK and around the world, Junior Home Office Minister Kim Howells expressed what I'm sure are his deeply held personal concerns about their action, but cannot call for an immediate ceasefire. Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett continues her mealy-mouthed and aggressive interviews, also under strict instructions not to call for an immediate ceasefire. And yet the Prime Minister of Great Britain who has issued the edict to his ministers is treated with contempt by the American President. Why does Blair subject himself in this way?

British people are innately fair-minded and more and more are turning against a man who seems to have lost the will of self determination when it comes to dealing with George Bush.

I signed up to the `no' campaign opposing the Iraq war, and now the message is the same in Lebanon. In the words of the President, and sadly with about as much respect, "Yo, Blair" - not in my name.

RICHARD BURT,

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate,

West Worcestershire.