War plan

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/19/war-plan-iraq-us-state-department

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Simon Jenkins remarked (about recent proposals to bomb Iraq) that "politics remains stuck in Homer's day, in human vanity and tribal loyalty" (Further Intervention in Iraq? The very idea beggars belief, 18 June). Indeed. And if warfare were not already a respected national institution – if it were not already accepted as the correct ultimate way of resolving disputes – would anybody now think of proposing it? Would someone then solemnly get up and say, "since we are not getting on very well with solving these problems, we had better just go out and start killing each other"? If they did, how would that proposal be accepted?Mary MidgleyNewcastle upon Tyne

• In your report on Iraq (18 June) the US state department is quoted as saying that it would be prepared to launch airstrikes, but not "over the head of the Iraqi people". Is this some new kind of technology?Nick BoydTunbridge Wells, Kent