Thankya, Dubya

A recent study by the International Institute of Strategic Studies, conducted for The Independent has estimated that, if British forces stay in Iraq for the next two years - as seems far from unlikely - then the cost of following the US into this part of Mr Bush's "war on terrorism" will reach somewhere in the region of £6 billion. This is equivalent of 2p added to the basic rate of income tax. I don't expect that direct taxation will rise, but I'm sure that in some way or another we'll all be paying for this increasingly ill-starred American adventure for years to come. Thanks - for nothing ...