Ben Griffin is a discrace to the armed forces fighting the Talaban, so what if they are using torture, you have to fight fire with fire and these people are against the west.

the rifleman, Liverpool, England

Is that what they'd do in Singapore, James, imprison the whistle blower?

Keith T, Winnipeg, Canada

What is the bigger threat to UK sovereignty, laws and traditions?

Iraq? Afghanistan? Or the USA?

To me, it is obvious that the USA is. Iraq and Afghanistan are some far off little countries. The USA is the country telling us and our leaders how to think and what to do.

As for soldiers not knowing the Geneva Conventions, I've checked and here in Canada even majors aren't schooled in them. So I'm not surprised British NCOs aren't.

expat UK

Keith T, Winnipeg, Canada

I am not defending the invasion of Iraq the US or British Government, but nobody is standing up publicly and denouncing the torture that was and still is inflicted on innocent Iraqi's by their own extremists. Nobody is remembering the disappearances and torture inflicted on people while Hussein was in power (yes I have met many of them myself and heard their accounts of what happened.) It was and still is truly sickening to think about the evil that countrymen can do to each other and to the women, the ill, the elderly and the very young. There is evil and wrong doing on both sides and we must remember that.

Karen, Adelaide, South Australia

If he had "no doubt in his mind" that the prisoners would be tortured but nonetheless allowed them to be handed over anyway then he might also consider whether he should "be called to face trial for breaking international law".
One has to question the intellect & judgement of a man who claims he left on "moral" grounds and concerns over legality etc but only thought to read the Geneva Convention after leaving!
I'd ask your readers (especially those from our greatest ally, the USA) not to judge the Regiment on the talk of this one individual, who only served for 2 years, but on the actions of the many still serving.

James, Singapore,

The things our politicians do in the name of freedom and security. Terrorism MUST be defeated, but civil rights of individuals, no matter what their country must be respected. Ofcourse, Brown and co will refuse to comment in the interest of national security.

Hamad Lone, London, England

It is amazing the number of brain washed people who believe torture should be used [it is against the law] in illegal wars and that Britain and the US should 'get away with it' [but not foreigners of course!!].

Connor, Thorpe, Surrey

I don't agree with either "War" but this is what has to happen if you are to obtain an advantage over the enemy. It's no surprise to me as an ex soldier of 22 years service. This guy is obviously trying to sell a story for the money. End of.

Bill, Hants,

Oh, and I can't believe he only found out about the Geneva Convention after he left.

What a money grabber.

Bill, Hants,

If only the bravery of this honest soldier was matched by the UK police and justice officials who actually could bring the UK regime criminals to justice.

Richard Cheeseman, Wellington, NZ

The whistle blower is the best source of information about the realities of power. Think of the Catherine Gun case, when a British diplomat (sickened at the blatant hypocrisy of the West) reported the fact that British diplomats were spying on those ambassadors to the UN who were crucial to the resolution on Iraq in 2003. Her reward ...

Daniel, London, Uk

"Mr Griffin told an event hosted by the Stop the War Coalition."

He made these allegations at an event hosted by the STOP THE WAR COALITION? And I'm supposed to believe he's making impartial statements? Please.

Haile, Cleveland, USA

It is about time that someone open his/her mouth.
It has been blatantly obvious, that horrors have taken place under the supervision of the British and American government.
Unfortunately Ben will probably be hastily prosecuted for speaking out, while the Blair's, Brown's and Bush's administrations continue to commit crimes in the name of democracy.
The B.B.B. have done nothing else than to promote violence and anger amongst the world and in the doing made this planet a very insecure place to be. A well known tactic to manipulate the masses and gain absolute power.
Send them all to the Hagues and see if prosecutions are as swift as it was for Saddam Hussein. Somehow I doubt.
This world is full of corruption and the western democracies are not exempt. How refreshing to hear about a soldier with some morales. Honesty should be celebrated, not punished.

lauren, London,

Why would the government order an investigation when it would be directed at them?
But why do the police need to be told to begin an investigation. Given their willingness nowadays to act on rumour and inuendo (so-called intelligence ) without resorting to that old-fashioned commodity evidence , well here they have some intelligence from a reputable source of serious crimes . What are they waiting for ?
Let the investigation begin now !
MI6 is just over the road and the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan await your presence .

Douglas Maxwell, Richmond, Yorkshire

I didn't mean it like that. What I meant was that nothing could be worse than al qaeda torture techniques. Waterboarding is not torture to them.

Bryan, Houston, USA

Mr Griffin did not join the special forces to be a tree hugger, or to receive the Queens enemies with open arms. He signed the official secrets act, and he should stop bleating...Suck it up buttercup, and keep your mouth shut.

Charles Dobson, Calgary,

The British Police Service have been dealing with vicious, cruel and sadistic criminals since time immemorial without having to resort to to unorthodox and in fact criminal techniques. Some of the toturous strategies allegedly used by the military in recent times are unlawful and had they been used by the British Police Service there would have been a public and political outcry. If the ex-soldier who has spoken up in this case can provide primary and secondary evidence of these matters then the Government ought to authorise a Judicial Inquiry with evidence being taken on oath.

Robert El-Cid, Hull., East Yorks.,

To Bryan, Houston, USA:

As a whole, we voted in two leaders who went on to roger a fully functioning, living country for oil and sent it spinning into disaster.

K. Urban, London, UK

Torture is a useless implement for intellligence gathering, members of mossad and the CIA have long known this, but the draconian acts of evil persist. As long as America maintains an arms race and commits atrocities in countries that it has no business being in, there will always be a reason for others to use propaganda to fight against this threat. If only America and Britain could practise what they preach, there could be a moral standard throughout the civlised world. But instead the 2 most powerful countries who push democracy, are the worst perpetrators behind closed doors.

China and Russia may actually be a good thing now a days, as who else is going to stand up against them. As long as there are patriots like Bryan from Houston who are ignorant and naive to the atrocities their governmennt commits, there will never be change!

JamieH, Edinburgh,

So Bryan, its okay to torture prisoners, as long as we don't torture them as badly as our enemies?

Adam, Stoke, UK

It is not the coalition it is the USA carry out the torture no matter what the Qaeda does is no excuse for any form of torture. Plain and Simple and most understand and agree this war in Iraq is completely illegal.
And yes those responsible for the lies and war should stand trial.

Alan, Lancs, UK

What the coalition is doing is not torture compared to what al qaeda is doing there. Let me enlighten you on some al qaeda torture techniques. Electrocution, They burn you with a hot iron, Eye Removal, Severing limbs. This is just to name a few. As you can see waterboarding should be used on terrorists to get information.

Bryan, Houston, USA

Nothing new there then!

I doubt we'll ever see the day where these monsters are truly tried for their war crimes.

Irfan, Preston, Lancs, England

You have got to be joking. Is this guy for real?
WAR is just that WAR! There are no rules. This guy says that only when he got out of the Army did he read the Geneva Conventions rules? Sorry, but this guy is joke and disgrace to all soldiers UK or US. The US is talked about time after time for not acting or acting to much. Where in the rule book does it say 911 was OK, Where does the rule book show the consentration camps of WW II were OK?
I don't like WAR anymore then the next guy. But I sure won't be judgemental on soldiers tactics to resolve something we didn't start.

Gregg Langefeld, Mesa, AZ

If they did not know what was going on, then they are not doing their job right, so should be sacked for being incompetent.

Either way, they should not be running the country.

Arthur, Newcastle,

All is fair in love and war

Nigel, London,

Will this bring the day Blair is arrested any closer. I mean - it has to happen sometime, so why not make a start now.

eric campbell, harrogate, uk