Dwin Bramall

Six months before the 2003 American-led invasion of Iraq, Field Marshal The Lord Bramall warned that an operation to remove Saddam Hussein would produce a display of massive, dynamic United States activity which provides one of the mainsprings of motivation for terrorist action in the Middle East and, far from advancing the 'war on terrorism', it would make matters infinitely worse. 'Dwin' Bramall rose from platoon commander in the campaigns in France, Belgium and Holland in 1944-5 to become professional head of the Army and then Chief of the Defence Staff. His reputation for a sharp mind combined with an engagingly persuasive manner led to his rapid rise through every level of command to that of four-star general. As Chief of the Defense Staff 1982-85, he sought to turn the minds of the single service chiefs away from their fixation with the Soviet threat and towards the growing challenges to Britain's security and national interests arising in the Middle East and Asia. Now a House of Lords cross-bencher, he continues to speak against the failure of successive governments to provide adequate support for the nation's security and argues for the much closer coordination of foreign and defense policy.