Rob Shorrock

Writing in his regular column in the Grantham Journal, Quentin Davies MP recently wrote a positive affirmation about international human rights and the difficult obligations this places on western democracies. He was writing about Darfur, but the points he was making could so easily have been made about Iraq. In addition, he is to be commended for taking a principled stance against the Tories and Lib Dems naive and dangerous opportunism to demand an immediate inquiry into our intervention into Iraq.

Quentin Davies is absolutely right to prompt a discussion on our obligations in this country and the west in general to human beings suffering horrendous oppression at the hands of their own governments. If you believe in liberal democracy you must believe that enlightenment values, democracy, equality and liberty are the best policy to counteract tyranny and oppression and the best security of human rights and, in the end, are the key ingredients of a better society - the one we would all choose to live in.

Historically, for those of us on the left, these values have led us to support organisations and individuals in other countries who a risk so much by campaigning for human rights, democracy and the overthrow of fascist regimes. It has been the touchstone of international solidarity that we advocate intervention to support democrats. Therefore, it saddens me to witness the shameful anti-war posturing from many on the left who are quite clearly equivocating on human rights and democracy by ignoring the demands from trade unionists and other progressive groups in Iraq, sidling up with extreme right-wing Islamists to denounce the US and Britain and demanding unconditional withdrawal of troops which would would lead to the nightmare scenario of a Baathist and Islamic fundementalist bloodbath.

The citizens of Iraq have just as much right as we do to live in a enlightened democracy, complete with the rule of law underpinned by human rights. Saddam had created a model fascist state, complete with all the necessary apparatus of fear and oppression. It was impossible for a mass popular uprising to take root and grow; all relationships were deeply monitored, even parents had to be careful what they said in front of their children for fear that pro-democracy or anti-Saddam comments would find their way back to the secret police.

Abdullah Muhsin from the General Federation of Iraqui Workers reminds us all: "If democracy fails in Iraq the world will be picking up the pieces for the rest of our lifetimes. If democracy succeeds in Iraq then we may be on the verge of a world historic process of democratisation throughout the region. That is what is at stake in Iraq. It is the hinge of our time."

The web site  of the 'Musuem of Creation' recently opened in Kentucky, declares that it will 'bring the pages of the Bible to life', and, quite strangely, features pictures of animatronic dinosaurs to help us visualise this. I wasn't aware that dinosaurs were a feature of the Bible and many adherents had questioned if they ever existed - tests from God etc.

This latest attempt by creationists to use the structures and devices of history and science to give substance to story and fable should come as no surprise. However, everyone who visits should be reminded that it is nothing more than a theme attraction designed by Universal Studios.