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Anu kicked things off with a clip of Sir Richard on the Today programme explaining his timetable for an Iraq departure followed by reaction from members of the public including serving soldiers.

Sir Max Hastings kicked things off: "There are two issues: 1. GW is probably the only human being left who thinks that Iraq is working out. 2. Morale in the British army has been suffering. We're trying to fight two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and men are getting tired. For the past few years British Chiefs of Staff have been under draconian instructions for silence. Sir Richard's honest approach is absolutely essential for the instituion he serves. I visited Iraq with Sir Richard a few weeks ago. The soldiers feel they don't see enough media out there. They feel it's time somebody stood up for them."

When asked if it was right for a serving army chief and public civil servant to speak so openly, Sir Max replied:
"Do you want the truth told? What he said is the truth. We've got to a point in Iraq where staying is not going to change anything. Sir Richard did not suggest we pack our bags tomorrow."

A view, it seems, Tony Blair . . .

We then heard from some people with loved ones currently serving in UK forces:

Alan, whose son is in Basra: "His views are very refreshing. Soldiers all too often give their lives away on underfunded missions"

Victoria, whose husband is in the RAf and has been in Afghanistan and Iraq: "It's the first time we've had a senior military person be so open and honest. I don't think any of his comments can be construed in a policitcal way. Unfortunately the media tends to manipulate things. There is also a huge amount of progress being made with areas of Iraq handed over to the Iraqi security forces. We should bring the forces home only when the time is right."

Gloria: "The army is underresourced, undermanned, overstretched. The families are going through immense strain. There are too many tours of duty. The public don't seem to be behind them."

Akif a pathologist from Baghdad: "The security forces in the south are being built up but they need help."

Victoria, who runs a support group here in the UK for members of the armed forces, said: "We cannot turn our backs on the Iraqis it would be unprofessional and immoral and those are two things you just cannot associate with the British army."

Akif : "We should have facts rather than specific timescales."

Gloria: "I don't think 2 years is realistic. I don't think we could achieve it. We can only leave when we've done a proper job. This is a country under Saddam was repressed and there is a problem with Iran who fund and support terrorism. We won't ever walk away and leave them to the Iranians or the Syrians. It's not the American and British forces who are killing muslims."

Amir Oren: "Political science professors will tell you there is a clear distinction between the political anbd the militray, in practice it has not been like that. The military are meant to serve the nation at large. If they object to something that the government says then it's their duty to speak out as long as they don't undercut the government."

Eric: "A Kenyan listening to a UK general like Sir Richard it is heartening. I doubt that someone would speak up like this here."

Bisi: "If a military person spoke out like this in Nigeria he would be charged for treason. This is a conflict of principle and conscience. He must have sat down to think about this. He knows what he's saying."

David in the US : "As an officer your responsibility is to destroy the enemy not to represent the hearts and minds of Britons. If he wants to speak out he should resign and run for office. We have elected officials to do that. His jobs is beans and bullets. The problem with Iraq is that military people are being counted upon to win hearts and minds when they are trained to take hearts and minds."

Dave in Huddersfield, UK: "The general may be correct but he should keep quiet. It's not his role. What happens next time when he intervenes on another issue say like Trident. Once you politicise the military you open up a whole can of worms like in Thailand where they've just had a military coup."

David in the US: "If a private on patrol were to say this to a ´óÏó´«Ã½ reporter he'd be locked up for 30 days without pay!"

Amir in Tel Aviv found the previous comments resonated with him: "I agree with both Davids. Forces have a monopoly on armed power in democracies. Sometimes the line is blurred - like in Israel - because when the generals retire they go into political service so in their final years of military service they are 'shopping' for a job."

Sonia: "It may be naive to divorce the army from politics. Sir RIchard is simply reporting on the state of the mission."

Eric: "If it's his conslusion that the mission will go on and on and on then he's right and he should be retained."

The final word of the night went to David in the US, founder of the website: "They just need to follow the rule and he should be held accountable."

Well, it's been a rollicking week here so we'd just like to leave you with a nice Friday the 13th weekend farewell. Sleep tight!!