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The General understands and knows what John Howard doesn't

"British troops in Iraq should be withdrawn "sometime soon" as their continued presence exacerbates Britain's security problems, the head of the country's army said in an interview published today.

"I don't say the difficulties we are experiencing around the world are caused by our presence in Iraq but undoubtedly our presence in Iraq exacerbates them," General Richard Dannatt told the Daily Mail newspaper, in an interview for today's edition of the newspaper, published on its website.

Dannatt said Britain should "get ourselves out sometime soon because our presence exacerbates the security problems".

He went on to say, "We are in a Muslim country and Muslims' views of foreigners in their country are quite clear ... As a foreigner, you can be welcomed by being invited in a country, but we weren't invited certainly by those in Iraq at the time."

So reports the SMH today. Presumably John Howard will assert that this General is wrong too - like he challenged the figures of Iraqi deaths. For how long will the Australian electorate put up with this little man who defies all rational and sensible positions and views?

The Independent reports the same General's comments and observations, more expansively and in greater detail, here.

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