A WAR to end all wars - that was the slogan given to the nation following the Great War of 1914-18, the armistice for which we still observe even today. But how false that prediction has proved.

Since then, we have seen the Second World War, the conflicts in Vietnam, Korea, the Middle East, the Gulf, Afghanistan, Falklands and the various African trouble spots. Need I go on?

Each time there is a reason which the politicians say is justified. Both sides in every case put out the maximum propaganda and the people are led into action, with the inevitable consequence of lives being lost.

In wars, the saying goes: "The only good opponent is a dead one" - which seems strange in times of peace when we are apparently friends with former enemies like the Germans, Italians, Japanese, Argentinians and many others.

Saddam Hussein, Colonel Gaddafi, and Slobodan Milosevic are still in power - and, at the end, will possibly remain stronger than ever.

K SOWERBUTTS (Mr), Southwood Drive, Baxenden.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.