Cost of Iraq war

The Telegraph is reporting that the cost of British military operations in Iraq rose by 50% last year to almost £1.5bn.....

Meanwhile a new UNICEF report states 'A child turning 18 in Iraq this year looks back on nearly two decades of sanctions, conflict and insecurity', said Sigrid Kaag, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa. 'To preserve the young generation growing up today, we need to shield children from violence, enhance humanitarian access and provide more resources."

Some things never change

As he tries to emphasise the difference between himself and his predecessor, Gordon Brown's watchword at the moment is 'change'. Unlikely to change this afternoon in the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) is the amount of resources poured into the military for 'defence'; 'security' and 'peace'. Whilst the headline figures for 'defence' spending were given as part of a number of military announcements sneaked out the day before the parliamentary recess, we should see some more details this afternoon. Comments no doubt later.

Meanwhile innocent victims of war around the world continue to call for real peace and security