War in Iraq

a former soldier in the SAS went public this week in the media over the issue of British involvement in torture. Now, as regular readers will know I have been a long time critic of what I regard as the killing of innocents, the capture and torture of people in Iraq and generally the lack of care over prisoners in Iraq. I thought that the readers of the Echo really ought to know what a Ministry of Defence spokesman said about my son's comments.The spokesman is quoted as saying "The UK government never uses torture for any purpose, including obtaining information, neither would we instigate actions by others to do so. We would not transfer an individual to any country if we believed there was a risk of mistreatment".Accordingly, I have no choice but to apologise most profusely for all of my earlier comments. I am surprised that my son was not charged with refusing orders and I think we should all be told why he was given an honourable discharge and why his discharge papers contain the comment that Ben has " the courage of his convictions". All of the media reports about prisoners being beaten, and in at least one case, a prisoner dying whilst under the protection of British troops are to be seen as fabrications. There were no pictures taken by British soldiers of looters being kicked, punched beaten with sticks.What must be accepted is that British soldiers were not lied to over the illegal war. That we have not retreated from Basra and that everything is great. Our soldiers have not died in vain and we can all hold our heads up high with pride over actions in Iraq over the last five years.Finally, our own MP Ben Bradshaw should be commended for not commenting about the war and ignoring all my comments about our involvement in Iraq. Well done Ben, you are the hero of the day and bring honour to the City of Exeter.