Iraq war protests - who's waving placards FOR our servicemen?

There have been angry protests in recent days against British servicemen returning from duty in Iraq. A small group of radical Muslims hurled insults at soldiers in Luton as they marched through their regiment's home town.

The protests have (rightly) drawn furious responses from the media and politicians. However it is worth noting the repulsion felt by Muslims everywhere at the actions of this mindless minority. As Mohammed Bashir, chairman of a local advice centre for the Asian community, put it: "They are nutters and criminals. What they did was disgraceful. There is no place in our society for people like that.” Further afield, Iman Kurdi – writing in Saudi Arabia's “Arab News” - described the actions as “abusing the right to protest”.

At the end of the day, the protesters – who numbered just 20 – have probably been given too much attention. But the whole episode does raise an interesting point. Whatever one thinks of the rights and wrongs of the Iraq war (and I, for one, remain convinced it was an illegal conflict that needlessly cost the lives of servicemen and civilians on both sides) the targets of the protesters should never be the soldiers. They are not the ones who decide where Britain's interests should be defended. They are given a job to do, and do it to the best of their ability.

And in so doing they are prepared to pay the ultimate price. I know many servicemen in Gosport, and I know the enormous sacrifices they and their families make every day. The long separations, coping alone, the worry about loved ones, the fear felt by young children, worries about the future – this is what our servicemen and their families have to contend with every day on top of the demands of frontline duty.

In return they are rewarded with wages that do not begin to recognise the danger they put themselves in, housing that is often substandard, and constant uncertainty about relocation and job cuts.

What angers me in all of this are the politicians who are prepared to put young British men and women in harm's way in almost reckless fashion, yet at the same time refuse to stand up for them and their families.

Take the Royal British Legion's Military Covenant campaign to improve healthcare, compensation and support for bereaved service families. You would have thought that any MP who was happy to vote to send our boys to Iraq might support a motion backing this campaign.

Not so Peter Viggers, the Tory MP for Gosport.

In spite of his outside directorships, he found time to traipse through the lobby to back the invasion of Iraq – but has found it harder to find the time to sign a piece of paper backing the covenant campaign.

As I write this, I've recently been made aware of an excellent charity, the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Children's Fund, that is being championed by another local politician (see, they're not all bad), namely Portsmouth's Mike Hancock MP. This is the only charity dedicated to helping children of serving, and ex-serving, Naval Services personnel. It has been running for over 100 years and helps children deal with the long-term psychological, emotional, physical, financial and social impacts that can result from having a parent work in the Navy. It helps over 1,500 children each year.

If the protesters want a target, it should be those hypocritical MPs who send our boys into battle – but who then aren't prepared to help them and their families at home. And as for me, I'm waving a placard..in SUPPORT of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Children's Fund.