However much we may disagree with the war in Iraq, these interpreters have been acting on behalf of all of us. The British nation owes them protection.

K John, London, UK

Someone mentioned Gurkhas. Young Nepalese males are desperate to join not because they want to serve Britain but because it's one of the few guaranteed ways to escape grinding poverty. I'm not aware we've ever said to them that if they join up they'll also get British citizenship and a pension.

Did these Iraqi interpreters assume they would be granted British citizenship? If so this may have been their motivation in the first place. When Britain and the UK pull out of Iraq will we be expected to give citizenship to everyone who's worked with us, police, miltary, politicians the lot ?

Lawrence, Liverpool, England

To: Michael Elliott, Gravesend, UK

"As a former soldier I signed up to defend not just my country but those people who cannot defend themselves.

I used to be proud to be British, not anymore."

Mr. Elliot:

Britain URGENTLY needs good, courageous, sensible, patriotic leaders. Maybe Britain needs you! Don't give up! Perhaps you can restore your pride in Britain.

Garth Rex, Glendale Heights, USA

Our Government probably feels that these interpreters, like our loyal Gurkha soldiers would not do enough to undermine the traditional values of British society, unlike the Moslem extremists that they let in with such ease.

This episode does at least give the lie to the myth that Brown is a sensible, patriotic man.

Gervas Douglas, Andorra la Vella,

Is it not true that we would normally grant leave to remain to immigrants if their lives are in serious danger in their home countries?

If this is true and the interpreters' lives are in danger in Iraq, then would they not be granted leave asylum under our standard immigration laws, and so not require any special assistance?

Alex, Ipswich, England

In my opinio i think that Britain does not have to take all the interpreters in just the vulnerable ones and give amount of money to the others to seek refuge in a third country,for the first group it should contain(PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED AT LEAST THREE YEARS).

This ends the debate and a way out to the british government

frany, paris, france

Of course we should give them UK citizenship as someone said above they have demonstrated skill and good will.They have put their lives at risk for their own country and for our military.It would be a dreadful disgrace to abandon them,morally bankrupt and foolish as no one would risk anything to help us in the future.We seem to let in quite a few wrong people .Why cant we welcome the right ones?

frances , Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Working for the British Army should not be seen as a one way ticket to get into Britain.

Kevin Smith, London, England

It would seem that these guys would probably be better immigrants that most other refugees make. At least they speak the language and have shown a desire to help Britain. On the next adventure it will be more difficult to get assistance from locals.

warren, calgary, Alberta

Yet more evidence of a morally bankrupt government. They are not to be trusted by anyone about anything and we must vote them out next time.

Mark, Harrogate, North Yorkshire

Sir,
The honour of our soldiers in comparison to the honour of the PM Gordon Brown...

SC, London, United Kingdom

Sadly, we seem to live in a country where PC means more than INTEGRITY and HONOUR ...

Chris, Portsmouth, Hampshire

I read your article regarding ninety one Iraqi people whose life is in danger after British troops pulled out from Basar. I fully support your comment regarding the point that the government should do a fair deal with these helpless people.
From what I can see the British governent play double standards. For example, let's take Sri Lanka, The British government bought Tamils into Sri lanka and later the Tamils formed terrorits groups. The government have supported these Terrorists by allowing them access into Britain as bogus refugees. Yet they can't support helpless Iraqis, who supported the British army. What hypocrites!

K.Don. Prema, Dawlish, Devonshire

I thought the Cossaks were on the German side during the war, how did they act in'our' best interest?

Deport some of the illegals and allow the Iraqis and their families who have been working with the Army in.

Freddy, brighton,

It is not enough that we pay billions to remake someone elses country but we must now also be the bad guys for not letting these same people come and live in our country (and pay for them too). What logic is this?? I give up.

Fed Up, Truro, England

Haven't we got enough Iraqi's here in the uk already, and if the UK's contribution to Operation Iraqi Freedom has been such a success, why are these interpretrs running for their very lives?
The truth is that the UK government and general staff have mismanaged our troops in Iraq so badly that we have effectively been routed. A war should be entered with the intent to defeat the enemy, not as a basis for negotiation as has been the UK government attitude. Lions led by donkeys again.

gary, Birmingham , UK

Yet another obvious reminder of the UK immigration system, to many wrong ones getting in, while genuine asylum cases get ignored, and the right ones get left behind.

Glenn, Stoke, Stoke-on-Trent

I thought Britain was historically good at failing to support some of her finest assets?
If these interpreters go the same way as the Gurkhas, it will only be another 52 years before the government deems them 'helpful' enough to support.
By the way, I also feel let-down and betrayed by Britain and I'm as British as they come! Once I was proud...

Elliott Cassin, Cheltenham,

By acting so dishonourably, the government would be damaging its status abroad and endangering the lives of its military personnel that it sends abroad on its sometimes ill-conceived adventures into foreign lands. Why should any civilian in these lands ever consent to act as an interpreter in the future, if in reward they may well end up being stabbed in the back? Gordon Brown promised thought-through decision making, long-terminism rather than short-terminism. Or was that just spin?

Dick, Durham, UK

Isn't the real problem the "cut and run" attitude that has risen in your country lately? After all, your troops spent 38 years stabilizing Northern Ireland and took about 800 deaths. Yet you are now abandoning Basra without first having fought the militias as you should have done. The Army there is holed up in a base near the airport and doing essentially nothing. Sure, you can save the lives of those interpreters, but what about everybody else that helped you that you are now abandoning? The absurdity is that there is no need for you to cut and run at this point in time other than to satisfy a certain social trendiness moment. Darling, I am so glad we are no longer in that beastly Iraq, and doesn't this New World Chablis taste unreasonably insouciant? Let's at least hope that no further soldiers get their Ipods pinched!

Dave M., Tonopah / London, USA / UK

I agree that those who help our forces should be taken care of and looked after. Unfortunately we have a LABOUR goverment in place whose previous leader was a Traitor. And, if one looks back through time it can be said that all Labour governments have behaved treacherously. Does anyone honestly expect Brown's government to behave differently?

Schmuel, Peterborough, England

This is the most disgusting thing I have heard in recent months.

I am absolutely ashamed that there are people in the British Government with such callous, dismissive and indifferent attitudes to these people who've served - at risk to their own lives - the troops in Iraq.

The amorality of such thinking is breathtaking.

If the Iraqi interpreters were to be refused residency in the UK, it would be nothing but a technicolour example of the very primitivism and barbarity we are supposed to be fighting.

There are plenty of people already in the UK, whose residency / citizenship status is infinitely less deserved than these brave people who have supported our troops throughout the activities in Iraq.

It is time for the Iraqi interpreters to be looked after, and on UK soil where they will be safe - away from the dangers that their work serving this country has engendered.

john guyatt, london, uk

100 interpreters want to come to the UK that have helped in the 'war' on terror. When inteligence is so desprately needed, to refuse these people and their family's asylum, is breath takingly shameful.
Is there no one planning long term or have a clue. that we will need in the furture the skills of interpreters on our own soil to help defend us, from past mistakes.
Duty of care, these interpreters have put the lives on the line to protect our soilders, I hope they are allowed a new life in the UK

James Smith, oxford, UK

What else do you expect from the morally bankrupt gang running (and ruining) our country?

Ed Moran, Devon, England

We let in to our country, 1'000's of people who don't really need to be here, who don't work, who claim benefits illegally, and the people who actually act in our best interests not of their own, we choose to abandon these..?? Just like the Cossacks..

Adam Webb, Milton Keynes, UK

I am puzzled by the outpouring of "grief" over the situation of the Iraqi interpreters. These people seem to take pleasure in beating their breasts over the people at risk in this situation but only if the British tax payer picks up the bill. We already have sufficient illigal Iraqi's in this country who seem to be able to make the trip without the assistance of the RAF. Are we to believe that an Iraqi cannot move to another location within their rather large country and avoid the recriminations of the local mob? If these people are allowed access do we then extend the privilege to their extended families? Leave them to make their own arrangements as they see fit, it was a forseeable situation but the wish to take the money from the British Army seems to have overcome thoughts of their personal safety.

Gambling, West Malling, UK

It is amazing how many other asylum seekers can find safety in the UK who have done nothing to assist this country and yet those who actually help are left to die.

Labour government should be ashamed of their actions.

aub, London,

Whatever happened to 'joined-up government'?

David Dillon, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

we let in all sorts of people, including perpetrators of islamic fanatism, the various imams spread around the country.
But we don't give asylum to people who have risked their lives to help us??

gino, madrid,

It is indeed an outrage. How can the UK just abandon these brave people when it suits them. Mr Brown must change the policy not only to support this small number of people but also to show the Iraqi people that we truely feel some responsibility for the situation created by this mad war.
How does the UK expect to obtain any similar assistance in future in Afganistan or any other country when they treat people in this appalling manner.

Helen Fairfax, Dorking,

we cannot give refugee status to the interpretors yet can give those 5 suspected terrorist sanctuary in the uk>??what is wrong with the brains of the government we have?send the suspects from quantanomo back to their own country, for gods sake wake up Brown.the interpretors help the uk and usa,did the 5 suspects found in Afghanistan??

joan, bexhill east sussex, uk

As a former soldier I signed up to defend not just my country but those people who cannot defend themselves.

I used to be proud to be British, not anymore.

Michael Elliott, Gravesend, UK

As Denis, Swords Ireland, says... We did the same to the Cossacks.

We do not have an exemplary record in such situations.

Where is the sense of fairness and differentiation between right and wrong, that I was taught in school, that we had?

Where is Britain's moral fibre? How is it, that we have such calibre of civil servant ?

This shames me. I wish I were not a Briton.

Pondlife, Evian, France

This really sends out a message that will make it ever harder for any foregin peacekeeping troops or even rescueworkers to gain the trust of the iraqie people. It adds to the wall between the people and others, acctually indicating that only british personell is important. In my oppinion the govorment should listen to the critique, and grant members of the iraqi people who have put their life of not just themselfs, but allso the life of their familys at risk; assylum.

Erik W, Karlstad, Sweden

I am now convinced that the Government is composed entirely of zombies, it appears to be devoid of any human attributes.

The army should just put the interpreters and families on the planes with the troops and then fight it out in the UK. The public will support them I am certain.

Hobbler, Watchet, Somerset

This is the most monstrous travesty among many travesties in our country's behaviour on the world's stage. I was totally against the illegal and immoral war in Iraq but having committed our soldiers and recruited Iraqis and others to in effect trust their lives and safety to Britain, we are prepared to throw them to the wolves and almost certain death.
On the other hand, when confronted with foreigners convicted of the most heinous crimes in Britain, we cannot / will not deport them to countries where they may feel in fear of their lives - the people making laws and decisions in Britain on our behalf are pygmies and half-wits.
We must not abandon these brave people. Please do evrything you can to persuade Brown to reverse this decision.

David Bell, Milton Keynes, UK

Already it as a betrayal that would leave the British Army interpreters face the inevitable fate of particular Gang of Taliban in Iraq will not leave them I do not think they will give them mercy As I speak as an Iraqi and I know what is going on there
Certainly they worked because they thought they would help their country

Muhsin Najim Abid, Bristol, UK

Already it as a betrayal that would leave the British Army interpreters face the inevitable fate of particular Gang of Taliban in Iraq will not leave them I do not think they will give them mercy As I speak as an Iraqi and I know what is going on there Certainly they worked because they thought they would help their country

Muhsin Najim Abid, Bristol, UK

Gordon Brown has done so well so far. He needs to intervene here rapidly for humanitarian and strategic reasons.

ken, bournemouth,

If ever a better definition of "career" politicians existed, I know not of it.
Today's "career" politicians have no experience of how "real" life is. Why do they NOT listen to those with experience. I can only assume they have self inflated egos.
All MPs should be shouting "WRONG" , support those that have supported us first, take care of the rest later.

Mel Jones, Lurcy Lévis, France

its passing a death sentence on these poor iraq people, they have helped the UK Goverment at least they could do would be to allow them into this country, after all they give suspected terrorists asylum here.

kevin murray , stoke on trent , UK

Did you really expect anything different from Mr Brown's government? Our 'leaders' are socialists (at least when it suits them) - who despise courage.

Doug, Glasgow,

The British Government failed to consider the obvious consequences of invading Iraq. It was inevitable that the current situation would arise with insurgents taking actions against British and American forces. However the least that British Government can do is to demonstrate humanity and compassion towards those Iraqis who have risked their own lives to aid and assist the British forces. It would at least permit the Brtitish to demonstrate its morality by protecting those that have assited the British efforts. However it is probably not the first time such dilemas have arisen e.g. the Vietnam War and other conflicts where nationals have assisted occupying forces and been left to their own fate. However we surely live in a more civilised time therefore as a consequence of invading Iraq it is the Government's duty to protect those that provided loyal service. Nevertheless each assylum application should be treated on its individual merits otherwise it sets a precedent for others.

Mr J. A. Fox, Pembrokeshire, Wales

I hope Gordon Brown will do the right thing and protect those interpreters who risked their lives to help our soldiers. I came to recognise over the years that the last PM cared about nobody's life, and probably the Home Office follows his wicked ways. But British people will want these 91 people and their families to be taken care of.
Asylum claimes are just over 5,000 annually while the official figure for inward migration is around 600,000 annually, and that is only those who say they are coming for a year or more; but many come on six month visas and never leave and they are no where in tha statistics. In all that these 91 needy souls should most certainly be protected and taken into our country.

Edwin Fleming, Portstewart, Northern Ireland

So, what's new? you did the same to the Cossacks after World War II.

Denis, Swords, Ireland