CarolC my son is about to deploy to Afghanistan for his fourth tour. It might surprise you to know that at no time has he been instructed or specifically trained to kill their women and their children or "steal their resources", in fact as far as their rules of engagement go they are strictly prohibited from opening fire if doing so risks the death of any unarmed Afghan person.

Now you did state the following with what appeared to be a marked degree of certainty:

"But it's ok for people from your country to go into other people's countries and kill their women and children, and steal their resources. I think you don't understand what evil is, Lizzy. Keep in mind that the government of your country for centuries went into other people's countries and subjugated them, treated them as slaves, took their resources, converted them to Christianity by force, and otherwise made their lives a misery. And now your government is doing it again."

And now we (the UK) are "doing it again" examples please? What resources have been stolen? I keep asking such as yourself who keep coming out with this crap for an example and none are ever given. You now have the opportunity to put up or shut up.

As Lizzie Cornish has said on balance the British Empire was a force for good in this world, no nation on earth did more to eradicate the slave trade. So we go "into peoples countries subjugate them, treat them as slaves, take their resources and convert them to Christianity by force" - tell me how all that went down in India CarolC? Would you describe India as a Christian country CarolC, it would be if what you stated was true wouldn't it. How about medical benefits of the British Empire CarolC, tell me about the cures passed down to the people by the local rulers, what did they do about malaria (which still holds the record as the greatest killer on earth)?

Care to explain the phenomenon of the Commonwealth CarolC? Second largest international organisation to the United Nations itself. care to explain why countries that have never had any political or historical ties to the UK apply to join this organisation, in which every member has an equal say and in which countries who do not live up to the required standards are expelled by majority decision.

You are very good at knocking CarolC, but woeful when it comes to suggesting alternatives.