As one of the anti-war marchers in Falmouth, I am writing in response to the "Falmouth soldier serving in Basra" who gave his views on those demonstrations.

I have no doubt that people in the anti-war movement here could learn much from him and his colleagues. The writer is clearly driven by the motivation to do good for people who have suffered much.

Would that we could leave it at that, and that no demonstrations were necessary.

I believe the soldier underestimates the breadth and scale of the "anti war" movement in the UK.

The fact is that there is a widespread sense of betrayal and outrage felt here by people of every stripe, that the UK government was able to send British soldiers to kill and be killed in Iraq on the basis of cynically manipulated half-truths, at best.

Despite the courage British soldiers are bringing to their work in Basra, I share the belief of many in the UK that our government's decision to invade Iraq was driven neither by humanitarian concern, nor by concerns over weapons of mass destruction.

Presenting Saddam to the British public as a problem insoluble by any means except invasion conveniently ignored the West's own role both in his rise and his durability. It also acted as a smokescreen for once again acting on strategic self-interest at the expense of the downtrodden.

I wish all British soldiers a speedy and safe exit from Iraq, for the benefit of all.

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