Pathetic, I suppose he is waiting for them all to be murdered before agreeing to let them in.

Farrukh, Woking, UK

I am incredulous. Denmark has already airlifted the Iraquis who have been helping and/or employed by them in anticipation of their withdrawal of Iraq. They have been given virtual green cards, accomodation, counselling, healthcare, future employment and schools are open to them. I am an Australian living in Manhattan, New York and my father and grandfather fought in both World Wars' respectively. They often spoke of those left behind. Surely we have developed more than that? Or as this attitude shows, sadly, we have not.

Sarah, Manhattan, USA

May I implore you not to use the word 'translator' as if it were synonymous with 'interpreter'? These two professions are quite different, both in terms of the skills and training required, and the end result. For example, only a tiny handful of professional translators are equipped to work efficiently as interpreters, especially in today's political or diplomatic world. Nor can one expect the majority of interpreters to down tools and demonstrate the breadth of literary, artistic, cultural and/or scientific education often required in order to produce convincing translations.

Geoffrey Marshall, Rennes, France

Does the reprehensible, possibly lethal, slowness of the government to act on this matter give new meaning to the phrase "British understatement"?

I would imagine it's hard to sip on afternoon tea with blood on one's hands.

Abbott Katz, London,

Translation should not be confused with interpretation: they are two different professional activities, requiring extremely different training and experience. I simply wish to urge you not to employ the terms as if they were synonymous - they are quite definitely not.

Geoffrey Marshall, Rennes, France

Perhaps Geofrey Regan author of Great Military Blunders should consider publishing a special eddition titled ' Current Military Blunders' .

The structure of the book could stay the same as previous editions. Chapters based on the themes of 'unfit to lead' (polititians that is), 'ploor planning' and 'under estimating the enemy' are all depressingly still relevant. With the plight of the interpretors in mind he could also add a chapter on "LMF" (lacking in moral fibre).

Ben Burdon-Cooper, London,

Let me see if I've got this right. We won't provide asylum for Iraqi citizens who've put their lives at risk in the service of our government but we demand that the US return foreign terrorists to UK.

Sally, London, UK

How did the MOD manage to turn 91 into 20,000? Nice footwork shifting from a problem they could fix with 2 planes to a problem they will report on "to ministers in the autumn". By which time they perhaps hope the problem may be slightly less than 91 and off the front pages.

Roger, London, UK

Governments usually sweep problems under the proverbial carpet. In this instance there is a rather convenient bi-product. The problem evaporates as these poor souls are murdered one by one.

I knew we were governed by incompetents. I knew they had a propensity to be malicious and small-minded (as anyone who has been the subject of a tax investigation or CSA Inquiry will know to their cost), but I hadn't realised just how callous this morally bankrupt and wholly dishonourable Administration had become.

We ask for the return of non-UK citizens from Guantanamo, where one presumes, perhaps wrongly, that there is at least some room for suspicion, but where our allies are concerned, we are happy to see them die for their bravery.

My history is not as good as it could be, but don't we as a country have a history of this sort of thing? I'm thinking of the mass repatriation of 'white russian' refuges after the Russian Revolution?

Mark, Birmingham, UK

Amazing - the UK Government lets thousands of illegal immigrants into the UK (some of whom contribute nothing)without any checks whatsoever and yet for 91 iraqi's who have risked everything (even their lives and the lives of their families) to help British forces the MOD turns it's back on them. This is cowardice by the UK Government. When will the UK government start acting like the government of a civilised nation instead of as a third world country. If I had to face these 91 Iraqi's I would be ashamed to call myself a British citizen.

David Grenfell, Kings Lynn, United Kingdom

This is in the good old British tradition of use 'em and lose 'em.
Then delay any decision whilst more of their number are killed
and the problem is solved.

Des Browne is a snivelling little cop out of a man who does not know the meaning of loyalty.

K. Urban, London, UK

Hopefully the oppisition parties will put pressure on the government to help these people.

Ian Burgess, Bristol,

I feel ashamed to be British.

Julia, St Albans, Herts

Then they should be given temporary asylum while their case is reviewed. Des Browne should be sacked for incompetence.

Jennifer, Reading, Berks,

The translators working for the military should be given asylum in UK on humanitarian grounds. For the translators, once discharged by the military, the can face an uncertain future as they may not have another job with the same pay or simply they can become jobless.
But granting asylum to them can prove controversial among the Iraqis themselves. They will say that these translators have all the advantages. In Iraq, they are economically secure through the high pay while millions of Iraqis are struggling to eek out a living. After this they will have the chance to live in UK away from the daily violence affecting the Iraqis. The case of the translators is just an iceberg in an ocean of troubles. There are millions of Iraqis that are displaced within and outside Iraq. They can have more convincing arguments to be granted asylum.

UK could have included in its contracts with them that its responsibility with them ends with their work in Iraq.

Abdelilah, Marrakech, Morocco

These interpreters should do what all the other migrants do. Get to the UK and seek assylum at passport control.

CA, Manchester, UK

hello realy it complex matter many many who help the britsh army and forces , in basra, and nassryah , and omarah noy just basra , but i like to say those interpters and translators have not just enslish backgroud i mean 90 pre of them they have certifcates like engneering , paoloy , e t c ... so their countery need them if they will leave and the others will leave who will stay ? just the millita i think there are many ways to help them for example rewared them as money to make bussines in others provinces in iraq i see that will help theyt make money all that time and the britsh will gine them a good rewared to start in other provinces we want to bulid not to immgrant the good minds some of them computer or I T studies as i said and add to all that they got agood exprinces and advantage from their work so what the best to remove them or stay to i sure they know how to protoct them selives any where in iraq

khaluf, nassaryah, iraq

Unbelievable. Colonial style of not accepting responsibility for one's action.

Torsten, Celle, Germany

Oh why am I not surprised? Lets face it the MoD cannot properly look after the interests of its own wounded and even a Gurkha VC holder is told he has no ties to the country - so a buch of Iraqi interpeters stand no chance! There used to be a saying in the RAF "You play ball with me .... and I'll shove the bat up your bottom!" Looks as though the MoD has adopted it as a general principle! As I get older I'm finding more and more decisions by government departments and especially by ministers who should know better, are verging on the dodgy if not the downright immoral. Oh yes, dont blame me I voted for the other lot! Hmmm Wonder where they are in this?

Mike Asacret, Cambridge, England

Civil Service squabbling and lack of moral leadership are the reasons why these people are being left exposed by a Government that cares nothing for the harm it causes. Des Browne is clearly not fit to hold a government post if he feels it is acceptable to delay a decision unilt the Autumn. Presumably this is on the basis that the public will have forgotten them then and they can be quietly refused entry. Shameful behaviour - but what else do you expect from New Labour ?

Riley, Kiev, Ukraine

Perhaps Geoffrey Regan author of Great Military Blunders should consider publishing a special edition titled ' Current Military Blunders' .

The structure of the book could stay the same as previous editions. Chapters based on the themes of 'unfit to lead' (politicians that is), poor planning' and 'under estimating the enemy' are all depressingly still relevant. With the plight of the interpreters in mind he could also add a chapter on "LMF" (lacking in moral fibre).

Ben Burdon-Cooper, London,

This is a disgrace and a massive betrayal of trust. this shows the govenrment's true colours, and Brown and Browne are not fit to hold office. They should resign for their shameful conduct immediately.

Peter, London,

It is simply amazing that the UK government is demanding the return of some Gitmo guests, captured in hostile territories, not UK citizens, and can't make a decision about granting asylum for others who have risked their lives in Iraq as translators for its military.

Rick, Galena, OHIO

My company once had an ethics policy which required that one 'do the right, because it is the right thing to do'.

There are times when policy and formality should take a back-seat to honourable and ethically-sound action. Without this ability, no person or organisation can be regarded as credibly trust-worthy and in the long-term it is not just their reputation that will suffer.

Bruce Haig, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Ah well, maybe by the time they make a decision, the problem will have 'gone away'...!?

Elliott Cassin, Cheltenham,

These people served Britain with distinction, and there is now a real and present danger to them in their own country.

It is indicative of Tony Blair's UK that we are even having this debate.

Shame on us!

imj, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Lets publicise this to the Afghanistani people in the Hearts and Minds operation there. Another good example of english belligerance. How are we meant to win support from people when we destroy them and thier families, leaving them for dead in Iraq or indiscriminantly bombing them in Afghanistan. It sends a clear message to all people who work closely with British forces that they will be hung out to dry after the UK government has extracted thier pound of flesh. Lets allow another 100,000 east europeans in instead.

matthew clark, tokyo, Japan