The war in Iraq ended almost two years ago. What is going on now is an attempt by Islamic militant terrorists to try to destroy the new freedom in Iraq! But most Iraqis are in favour of democracy with 60 per cent of those registered to vote turning out and voting in Januarys elections.

....and learn to spell your own name while you're at it...

those that voted overwhelmingly voted for parties that oppose the occupation.

Leave my son alone!!! His teachers told me he has a great understanding of the English language. In fact he just came first in a spelling test at the primary school he's in so there's nothing bad you can say about him.

I suspect Micheal is just some idiot messing about. However, his opinions reflect those of many people who have been brainwashed into thinking that things really are ok in Iraq now that they have 'freedom'. Micheal, if you have found Indymedia, you are lucky enough to have access to something other than the mainstream press. Perhaps you should try reading some of the articles here, and then maybe looking a little further (eg  http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=7209) and then try to think about the information you are being fed by the mainstream media a little more critically.

First of all, I am a bit appalled at the reaction to "Micheal"'s message. Indymedia's suppose to be a place to express our views more freely, and even if someone else has completely stupid and archaic opinions, tey shouldn't be met by "Shut Up and Piss Off".

But here my main message directed to the Stop The War Coalition folks (I sent this to  cambridge@stopwar.org but received an error message as a reply):

When I demonstrated two years ago with thousands of other people in London and Cambridge, I was expressing my anger at the lies of the US & UK governments concerning the invasion of Irak, as well as the total breach of international law and the sovereignty of Iraq. This was the message of your organisation at the time and I shared it. However today, I am not quite sure anymore that your views and mine coincide.

Your main slogan is "End the Occupation" (preferably now, as I gather). I am trying to but I do not understand how taking the foreign troops out of Iraq would do any good to that country. It barely has a police force, let alone an army capable of maintaining the very low level of law & order that the invading troops are. I am concerned that unilateral withdrawal from Iraq would leave the country vulnerable to further extremist violence and to a rise in territorial and sectarian tensions. On top of this, I assume many Iraqis would feel betrayed by these troops if they left without having brought what they promised, peace and democracy. I did not agree with the invasion of Iraq and I fundamentally do not agree with its aims (i.e. bringing unstable peace and westernised democracy to Iraq) but it happened, so it is important for me and, I feel, for your organisation as well as, to be more pragmatic about the future possibilities of peace in that country.

If the troops are to be withdrawn, it has to be done in a more comprehensive way i.e. first putting Iraqis back in control of their country. It also has to entail giving Iraqis the justice they deserve i.e. trying those people responsible for indiscriminate destruction, killing, etc. And of course, this has to including the foreign soldiers, US and UK officials as well as Muslim extremists. Without justice, I don't believe there will be peace. The only way for this to happen is for an elaborate legal system to be set up in the country. I have to admit that I do not see the present occupying forces allowing such a process to take place and therefore I do agree that they needs to be a radical shift of power in who has control over Iraq ... Maybe the UN should step in, maybe broader and more legitimate troops should be sent.

The solutions to Iraq's situation are complex and I do not claim to know these answers, but I feel that the Stop the War Coalition's message is too simple and too naive. I regret not agreeing with you anymore because I would still like to demonstrate against this war and this invasion, but I feel alienated because your main slogan leaves little room for those, like me, who opposed the way but do not support unilateral disengagement.