what is your opinion on the war in Iraq ?

An excellent post.

One can make the argument that British troops are supposed to serve British interests, and that Iraq is in a bit of a state at the moment, but I think in the long-term Iraq will be better off as a result of this war. If I am right, I most definitely think the Iraq war was justified, even if Britain loses out. Hopefully Iraq can now move towards a stable democracy, it certainly wasn't going anywhere with Saddam. History's judgment of the Iraq war will likely depend on how Iraq fares over the next 20 or so years.

So basically your own country can go to the dogs but heaven forbid if Iraq, a country inhabited by a people not worth the life of a single British soldier who burn British troops in mobs, doesn't prosper.

As I said in my last post this is an ideological divide. On the one hand we have those who think that human rights and freedom are universal and that it is the responsibility of all who can to ensure that everyone has these freedoms and rights. On the other we have those who think that human rights are fine in principle but that it isn't our problem if there are people in other parts of the world living under horrible dictatorships.

And so the racism inherent in a large chunk of the anti-war brigade becomes apparent.

Second, if you're happy being a racist, good for you. But let's not pretend that the opposition to the spread of democracy is based on anything other than selfish desires often based on racist notions either that "they" aren't worth it or that "they" aren't "ready" or "designed" for democracy.

Fine, but let's also not pretend that the support for the spread of democracy is based on anything other selfish desires to satisfy your own ego. You don't care how many brave British troops die, or how much our own country degenerates. As long you get your ego boost you're happy.

That's novel. How exactly do I get an ego boost by supporting the spread of democracy and freedom?

Methinks you're clutching at straws.

You seem to prioritise another's country's interests over your own. This suggests you care far more about this vanity project in Iraq than your own countrymen.

Yeah, you're spouting nonsense.

To all those banging on about how bad it was, a simple question:

Are you going to tell the Iraqi people they ought to still be living in fear of Saddam?

Right so all those who oppose the war are Saddam supporters? Great argument. We don't hear you lot pressuring to get Mugabe or Kim Jong-il removed. I take you support these dictators?

Are you going to tell the Iraqi people who died, injured severely, lost their homes, relatives and jobs, basically their entire lifestyles that they ought to welcome all the bombs, killings, murder and torture (including in abu Ghraib - this is just one of many incidents that actually managed to be leaked) that they are 'free'?

I do not support the murder or torture, so no. But I would tell the people who lost their loved ones in the initial invasion that the invasion was the right thing to do because it removed Saddam from power.

Will you tell all those who voted in the recent poll that they shouldn't have that right and should go back to living under a brutal dictatorship of fear and torture?

Where did your conclusion come from?

In other words, in your view no one may do anything if it results in someone's death. Glad you don't run things - only those who don't care about rules and law would be allowed to use force and so we'd all end up under the boot of dictators and thugs.