Soldier's family: 'Our son died in a pointless war'

Soldier's family: 'Our son died in a pointless war'

By Lauren Veevers

Published: 13 May 2007

Kevin Thompson doted on his grandfather, and emulated him by joining the Army. Now they have both died, just days apart.

Pte Thompson was serving with 19 Combat Service Support Battalion in Iraq when his 78-year-old grandfather, Stan Thompson, a professional soldier for 12 years, died of a heart attack two weeks ago. His grandson was granted compassionate leave, and returned to Lancaster to attend the funeral.

But just after he went back to Iraq, Pte Thompson's convoy was hit by a roadside bomb. The seriously injured soldier was treated at Basra Air Station before being evacuated to Selly Oak hospital in Birmingham, where he died on Sunday. He was 21.

"Tomo", as he was known, joined the Army in 2004 and had only two weeks left of his first operational tour.

His family have criticised the war as "pointless", blaming the Prime Minister and calling for British troops to be withdrawn - not least for the sake of Pte Thompson's brother Andrew, 18, also a serving soldier, who is currently training for a tour of duty in Iraq. Their grandmother, Dorothy Thompson, said: "We want Andrew out of the Army - we're not prepared to lose two family members for a pointless war."

Mark Thompson, their father, said last week: "I could strangle Tony Blair. So many young men have died in Iraq when they shouldn't be there in the first place. When Kevin was over for the funeral, he said morale was very low. My only consolation is that he died a hero."

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article2536865.ece

The Mideast as a democracy was a pipedream and an excuse for war. Saudia Arabia royalty has always been welcomed at W's ranch.

Maybe bushbots will wake up.

British military families went into this war with their eyes wide open, unlike their American counterparts. The British never bought into the lies they were told by their government, and the vast majority of them did not share the delusional optimism one heard from official sources. The war was hotly debated in the UK, and remained controversial up until this day.

I hope that Gordon Brown will do what Blair was unwilling to do, and bring all the troops home to their families and loved ones, where they belong.

by their elected representatives in the US and the UK. The only time "they" listen is when the public will is in agreement with the economic interests that really own both our countries.

Iraq and figure it out for himself. Whatever, but I can only hope he has better regard for the British soldiers than Blair did.