[makikomi]

It seems like the military action was carried out without serious consideration given to what to do in the aftermath.

The flattening of the prison was something I'd have expected from the Yanks, but not the Brits. There will be militants using that and twisting it so that it becomes a symbol of "Westerner's interference" and just ignoring Iraqis.

Allowing loads of other prisoners to escape was stupid too.

As for whether the troops should come out, of course they should. Their job is now largely done. If a presence is needed, it should be clearly working with the Iraqi military - units paired up so that you have the benefits of Western experience and technology with Iraqi cultural and geographical knowledge.

Remember the story about a group of Military Policemen (MPs) who were trapped in a police station by a mob of Iraqis? And the sergeant who refused to leave his men despite a way out being shown to him? I knew him. Simon Hamilton-Jewell was a member of the judo club I went to down South. Despite showing incredible restraint, and eventually surrendering, Simon and his army colleagues were murdered. My father went to HJ's funeral.