Prisoner of conscience: RAF doctor who refused Iraq service is jailed: "“The invasion and occupation of Iraq is a campaign of imperial military conquest and falls into the category of criminal acts. I would have had criminal responsibility vicariously if I had gone to Iraq.""

During the whole course of the obviously illegal and criminal Iraq war a mere handful of people in the military, government and public service of the aggressor countries have had the courage to oppose it on principle. In one sense, the Nuremburg defence ('I was only following orders') is valid, in that you cannot seriously expect people in any numbers to risk career, income, status, freedom by making a stand against wrong. Those few that do, of course, are heroes.

Prisoner of conscience: RAF doctor who refused Iraq service is jailed: "“The invasion and occupation of Iraq is a campaign of imperial military conquest and falls into the category of criminal acts. I would have had criminal responsibility vicariously if I had gone to Iraq.""

During the whole course of the obviously illegal and criminal Iraq war a mere handful of people in the military, government and public service of the aggressor countries have had the courage to oppose it on principle. In one sense, the Nuremburg defence ('I was only following orders') is valid, in that you cannot seriously expect people in any numbers to risk career, income, status, freedom by making a stand against wrong. Those few that do, of course, are heroes.