Iraq - three years on

4.01.00pm GMT Mon 20th Mar 2006

Today is the third anniversary of the US/UK invasion of Iraq. Three years ago I was travelling around South America always on the look out for news about the developing crisis, marched against the impending war in Buenos Aries and watched the invasion begin from a jungle house in the Amazon. Three years on the situation is Iraq is terrible, worse (in many ways) than under Saddam.

It is estimated that up to 100,000 Iraqis (no one had bothered to keep a proper count!), over 2,300 US troops and 103 British troops and 94 troops from other nations have died. It is reckoned that as many as 50 people are killed every day, with the former Prime Minster Ayad Allawi has said Iraq has descended into civil war.

Whilst it is impractical to pull the troops out know - not least after causing the current mess we (UK/US) should remain until we sort it out, we do need to develop an exit strategy - something I suspect was never planned for properly in the first place.

On a related note, I have to say I was never prouder of the Liberal Democrats than when they opposed the war - and the picture above is one of my favourites, and Charles who is no longer Leader was magnificent at the time. If anyone has the original could they let me know as I would love an actual copy.