Officially, The Royal British Legion is neither pro-war nor anti-war. We are pro-Armed Forces personnel, past and present, and their families. Our mission is to defend and safeguard their welfare, their interests, and their memory.

We acknowledge that all wars are unpleasant and they always have victims — and that those victims are often those who have been sent to war by their government. We pass no judgement on the morality, legality, or necessity of any particular conflict, but we are unflinching in our support of the men and women who serve.

To answer your question more specifically then, yes, we are comfortable being supported by people who wish our troops well and who, at the same time, may oppose the war in Iraq or any war in principle.

I am sure that your views are shared by many in society, and indeed, by many in the Legion. I personally know Legion staff who are pacifists, Legion staff who oppose the conflict in Iraq, and those who hold quite the opposite view. In neither case do their views prevent them from offering support to the Armed Forces.

So you can tell your friends down at the pub that we here at the Legion greatly appreciate their support of the Armed Forces serving in Iraq, and their families at home, even if they do not support the operation itself.

Well, that’s fair enough. I can support that.