Do politicians think we have short memories? One year after the US invasion of Iraq, they're saying they succeeded in ousting an oppressive regime. But I remember the events leading up to the war. The US invaded Iraq because the Iraqi Government failed to prove they had no weapons of mass destruction. Guilty until proved innocent. This is democracy? I thought it was supposed to be the other way around. How do you prove you don't beat your wife?

Events have proved the Iraqi regime innocent, because no one has yet found any weapons of mass destruction. So, with 20/20 hindsight, they're now blaming the oppressive regime.

I've got news for First World politicans. Some people like being oppressed. Whole countries like being oppressed. That's why they're run that way. Across the road I have neighbours who just love being oppressed. The women walk around in letterboxes, just their eyes showing through the slits in their black shrouds. To me, this is a symbol of oppression. I find it as offensive as they presumably find my open face, bare legs, and daily bottle of wine.

I suppose in a free country, you have the freedom to choose to be oppressed. But I don't want your oppression tainting my freedom any more than you want my freedom tainting your oppression. I don't want an insidious invasion of my culture by foreign elements any more than they want an overt invasion of their culture by the US.

If you want to oppressed, please go and do it somewhere else. Preferably a place that specialises in the stuff.