British combat operations in Iraq end today, which brings to mind a great comment from John Stuart Mill.
‘War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things; the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing is worth a war, is worse … A man who has nothing which he cares more about than he does about his personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance at being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.’
John Stuart Mill, The Contest in America
Respect and gratitude to the brave men and women of the UK forces for their exertions over the past six years. They stand head and shoulders above the miserable creatures who are their critics.
well said.