http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3624617.stmAmerican plans to use "decisive force" to keep order in Iraq risk undermining efforts to rebuild the country, say the Liberal Democrats.
President George Bush says he will try to prevent civilian casualties but will tell US commanders to do what it takes to stop the current violence spreading.
But Sir Menzies, foreign affairs spokesman for the Lib Dems, UK's third largest party, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it defied the evidence to suggest there was a direct connection between things like the Bali bombing and Iraq. "I think the risk of lumping all of these things together is that you believe that there is one solution which will deal with all of these difficulties," he said.
He warned that flying helicopter gunships above residential areas of Iraq would not help win the "battle for hearts and minds". "The use of decisive force may well have the consequence of undermining the long-term political objective," he said.