There is, as I said, an utterly cynical and degrading abuse of humanitarian aid. Food and water – hunger and thirst – are being used as instruments of war in the siege of towns such as Basra. The proof can be seen, We were told that people would come out and welcome them but the proof is that there has not been a single sign of this. We have, however, had some instructive elements such as the bombing of a water purification plant. It is totally cynical that agencies distributing food and water should be bombed by the axis of evil of the United Kingdom and the United States, only for them to then go in with their laughable humanitarian aid.