While the rest of the world saw the comical side and delight when, during a press conference in Iraq last December, an Iraqi reporter lobbed both his shoes at Bush, the reporter for his behaviour was subsequently jailed.

It is now understood he may also have been tortured while in custody.

In intention and purpose, his crime arguably was only a perceived insult and for it he served a harsh penalty diminishing all else that has occurred in the country since the invasion. This fact alone leads to the thought that the military action was probably justified – twice over!

N Momoniat (Mr) (address supplied)