Excellent article from...The Mirror?

We spend so much of our time running this country down - our trains, our hospitals, our schools - that we have almost forgotten what national pride feels like. The war in Iraq has reminded us.

No wonder the rest of the world wants to come and live here.

I have felt pride in my country every time I see images of British soldiers. Those soldiers are ferocious in battle, magnanimous and humane when the fighting is done.

I felt pride when I saw soldiers from the Black Watch removing their helmets and replacing them with soft Tam o' Shanters - quite literally risking their lives for a gesture of peace and goodwill.

I felt pride when I saw Royal Marines playing football with local lads from Basra - a low-key gesture of common humanity in the middle of a dirty war.

And I felt pride when I read about Sergeant Gary Hughes, who picked up and carried an Iraqi woman who was giving birth to a hospital in Az Zubayr.

There is now a baby boy in Southern Iraq who rejoices in the name of Yussuf Gary.

How can you think about baby Yussuf Gary and not feel an overwhelming gladness that you come from this little damp corner of the globe?

The war hasn't quite worked out the way the peace camp must have hoped.

Not enough mindless slaughter.

Amen Brother.