THE chief of the British Army has apologised to the Iraqi nation after three soldiers were jailed and thrown out of the military for abusing civilian prisoners.

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The Chief of the General Staff said: “I apologise on behalf of the Army to those Iraqis who were abused and to the people of Iraq.”

Although it’s difficult not to note in this case that beatings to gather information is reduced to abuse instead of being called what it is, and that forcing prisoners to pretend to engage in homosexual sex acts for British amusement doesn’t appear to be a chargeable offense these days, an apology, instead of weak justifications and vague mutterings about a few bad eggs and isolated incidences, is a start.

[ Update ]

British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon

“We also agree that it is right to apologize on behalf of the army to the victims and the people of Iraq.”

Do note that as right as he says it is to do, he didn’t actually do it.