The word on the street
How does Scotland feel about the Iraq conflict? To find out, Alan Crawford sampled public opinion in one of the capital's streets
Venture beyond the hubbub of the High Street to the far end of South Bridge. There, with Old College on your right and a sex shop to your left, your journey into the capital's views on Iraq can begin.
Nicolson Street, leading into Clerk Street and its neighbour South Clerk Street, is rich in ethnic diversity, with a large transient student population. It is one of the capital's most vibrant thoroughfares, if fairly down-at-heel. And it's probably the best place to start when you're looking for a sample of opinions from across our near multi-racial society.
In Black Medicine Caf?, Manuela Mancini, a student from Rome, was more than willing to condemn the US and UK for their actions in Iraq.
'It's just bringing more death. They're masquerading as a noble war but they're just out to get more power,' she said.
Behind her, Lisa McIlwraith, a doctor from New Zealand working in Edinburgh, thought the allies' stated motives for invading Iraq, to rid the country of weapons of mass destruction and topple Saddam's regime, were disingenuous.
'It's to do with control of oil and not humanitarian issues, although that might be a positive outcome of the war,' she said. She believed Tony Blair was supporting Bush to try and bring a moderating influence to bear. 'Bush is essentially quite a dangerous man,' she said. 'While I don't agree with Blair, I do feel he's more concerned about people, the UN and the world.'
Up the street, near the Royal College of Surgeons, Dr Pyare Lal was unconvinced by the prime minister's arguments.
'This is an unneccessary war. It's not justified because it's not backed by a United Nations resolution. I think President Bush had already decided a long time ago he was going for Iraq, ' he said.
Lal, a surgeon originally from India, who trained in Edinburgh and now lives in London, said the military action looked like becoming a 'messy war'. 'The consequences will be more terrorists and more instability in the world.'
Adrian Stalker, principal solicitor with Shelter, remained undecided on the morality of waging war on Iraq, but added: 'I think it's going to get worse before it gets better.'
He did have a degree of trust in Blair's judgement, arguing that Tony Blair must have information suggesting British lives would be at risk without military action.
'That's certainly not the view of the people I work with,' he added.
Further south, outside the Empire Bingo hall, a couple of tattooed workmen had plainly not spent much time deliberating the conflict. 'I'm no bothered as long as it stays in Iraq,' one shrugged.
Across the street, in the RB Food Store, Mahmood Shahid had a stack of Stop the War leaflets by the till. 'I feel war is no solution. The proper way is to sit down and talk because this war is no good for anyone.'
Into Clerk Street, charity shops dominate and the street seems dirtier. John Raeburn, of Edinburgh, emerged from the Southside Community Centre and pronounced the war 'terrible'. 'They shouldn't be there. In the end Bush'll not give it over to the UN. He'll run it for a few years and fill tankers and tankers of oil.'
In De Niro's restaurant, chef Pedro Tang, from Venezuela, was angry at the anti-war protestors: 'People in this country should support the troops. If someone would ask me, I would fight against Saddam Hussein.' He pointed out that some 70% of Venezuelans live in poverty but the country is the fifth largest oil producer. 'We've got a guy there now, he's like a bloody communist.'
The road widens again in South Clerk Street and the shops become smarter. Doing up a shopfront are Edinburgh boys -- 'born and bred, like' -- Wayne Shennan, James Cameron and Nicky Sullivan.
'I'm all for it,' said Shennan. 'They should have been in there straightaway.'
'They've got to be up to something,' added Sullivan. 'But it was all sold to him by the British. I think the Arab league of nations should have more to do with it.'