"In the name of reason and humanity the government must now act

[malaise]

and bring forward an exit strategy."

<snip>
General Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the army, dropped a political bombshell last night by saying that Britain must withdraw from Iraq "soon" or risk serious consequences for Iraqi and British society.

He added: "We are in a Muslim country and Muslims' views of foreigners in their country are quite clear.

"As a foreigner, you can be welcomed by being invited in a country, but we weren't invited ... by those in Iraq at the time. The military campaign we fought in 2003 effectively kicked the door in.

"Whatever consent we may have had in the first place, may have turned to tolerance and has largely turned to intolerance." He added that planning for the postwar phase was "poor" and said the aim of imposing a liberal democracy in Iraq had been over-ambitious.

Such an outspoken intervention by an army chief is extremely rare and is bound to increase pressure on the government to continue making its Iraq case against a backdrop of growing mayhem on the ground.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1921450,00.html
A scathing condemnation and demand for withdrawal.

[ClintonTyree]

1. Unfortunately Blair has the same disease as Bush.

They both have selective hearing and are inclined to make shit up as they go along. Until there's a change of resident at 10 Downing Street the British are in for a long, protracted war right alongside the United States. Blair and Bush must both go, and soon, if there's to be a change of direction in Iraq.

Until such time as Bush and Blair are removed from office "stay the course" will be the only phrase out of their lips regarding Iraq.

[Greeby]

2. At which point Tony's spin doctor popped his round the door and said

Sorry, we don't do reason and humanity :eyes: