The RAF has ended its involvement in Iraq, after 19 years of operations that began with the 1990 Gulf War.

From today, most British air personnel remaining in the country will return to the UK.

The RAF Ensign - flown at Basra Airport in southern Iraq since 2003 - has been lowered at a ceremony for 903 Expeditionary Air Wing.

A total of 22 RAF personnel died in Operation Telic, the name given to the UK military mission in Iraq since 2003.

The RAF was deployed on operations in the Gulf in August 1990, when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait.

Now America truly stands alone in Iraq.  The last military power besides America has left the old "Coalition of the Willing."  Donald Rumsfeld must be so proud. 

As I was reading this article I couldn't help but think how much money Britain is now going to have for other budget items besides instruments of  war making.  Leaving Iraq means the British have freed up billions of dollars for their domestic issues, instead of just throwing the money into the bottomless hole that is the Iraq occupation.  Just think if America got out og Iraq by the end of the month.  Money for schools, for healthcare, for infrastructure, for environment cleanup and on and on would be available.  Or we could start to pay down the deficit.  Any of the above is preferrable to bankrolling an occupation that our grandchildren will have to pay for if we do not radically change policy, and soon.