"There is no duty more noble than that which has called you across the world in defense of freedom," stated the message from the star of the classic gladiator flick "Ben Hur" and his wife Lydia.

"Yours is a mission of hope and humanity for the oppressed.

"Rest assured that while pretend-patriots talk of supporting you, even as they condemn your noble cause, an unwavering vast majority of Americans share and take pride in your mission," the actor and his wife said.

The couple said that the US forces represented "all that is good and right about America and are the true face of American patriotism.

"You walk in those same righteous footsteps of all those patriots who, before you, fought to preserve liberty for all," the 79-year-old star and staunch Republican supporter Heston said.

The scathing attack on opponents of the US-led invasion that has seen the toppling of the regime of Saddam Hussein came after such stars as Susan Sarandon and her husband Tim Robbins led criticism of the war.

Other celebrity peace activists include Sean Penn, Dustin Hoffman, Martin Sheen and Robert Redford.

Heston won the best actor Oscar for 1959's "Ben Hur" and also made other classics including "El Cid" in 1961, "55 days at Peking" in 1963, 1968's "Planet of the Apes" and "Julius Caesar" in 1970.

He is also president of the National Rifle Association that advocates the right to gun ownership in the United States.

SPACE.WIRE