Get us out of Iraq - Campbell tells Brown

9.42.31am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 21st Aug 2007

It is time to set a framework for the withdrawal of all our forces. - Campbell

The Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Menzies Campbell, has written to Gordon Brown saying: "The current level of British casualties is unacceptable. What is being achieved by the continuing British presence? Our troops are severely restricted in what they can do and they are subject to unreasonable risks. There is now a clear recognition that the objectives of their mission cannot be achieved ... Is it the case that our continuing presence in Iraq is now only to show solidarity with the United States? Were it so, could it be justified against the level of our casualties? It is time to set a framework for the complete withdrawal of all our forces."

Sir Menzies said he had spoken to top-ranking officers who want out of Iraq while there is still just a chance of saving the situation in Afghanistan. So, he asked Brown, are young men dying only to spare President Bush embarrassment? Brave men are well-trained to take risks and to see their friends die around them. But pleasing the White House is no legitimate war objective.

The Lib Dems have been right, right and right again about the Iraq war - yet Labour rides high in the polls with a cabinet full of men and women who obediently voted for this calamity (with the honourable exception of John Denham). There have been no apologies. Sir Menzies Campbell says wistfully: "For the life of me I cannot understand why the cabinet of the time did not stand up to the prime minister when the risks of military involvement were so plain." There was huge hidden disquiet on both Labour and Tory backbenches, he says: "How did the House of Commons let it happen