BBC NEWS | UK | Jail for Iraq refusal RAF doctor

It’s not every day that a member of the armed forces makes it big in my book. But this guy, Flight Lieutenant Malcolm Kendall-Smith, who refused a direct order to go to Iraq, deserves all of our praise.

We should applaud those who make a stand and refuse orders for what they see as illegal activity by any government, including their own.

The Neurenburg trials after the second world war proved that to be the correct course of action.

The judge who sentenced Doctor Kendall-Smith to eight-months imprisonment sought, throughout the trial, to undermine the soldier’s credibility and sincerity and showed a degree of arrogance which is amazing. Consequently he and the judicial system lost any credit that might have been given for impartiality.

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