Diary of a soldier KIA >> 'Iraq not worth dying for,' Mr Blair

[sabra]

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=26027&in_page_id=34

'Iraq not worth dying for,' Mr Blair

Biting criticism of the Prime Minister's handling of the Iraq crisis has been published in the war diary of a young soldier who was killed in action.

The journal of Gunner Lee Thornton, 22, which includes entries in which he addresses Tony Blair directly, was made public by his grieving parents 11 weeks after his death.

They now plan to send a copy to Downing Street.

The diary, written after Gunner Thornton was sent to Basra with 12 Regiment Royal Artillery last April, talks of failing equipment and low morale.

Facing the constant threat of sniper fire from insurgents, he writes: 'I don't trust the Iraqi army, the Iraqi police or the people. This is pointless.'

On a day off in August, he says: 'All I have done all day is think of home. I hate this place. It is just not worth dying for.

I wish Tony Blair could see that.' In another entry he writes: 'Why can't they stop bombing each other and then we can go home.'