What is it like to have helped plan an invasion for a war that you now consider to be one of the worst strategic mistakes

in recent British history.

Our next guest on downstream, Major General Charlie Herbert's probably been popping up on your TV

screens, being one of the most

vociferous critics of Israel's bombardment of Gaza.

And today we talk about the invasion of Afghanistan, Iraq, and the reasons why conscription might not work for Britain in the 21st century.

Major General Charlie Herbert, thank you so much for joining us.

Just a quick question, does your post get addressed

to Major General, or are you just plain old Charlie Herbert?

I think it depends on who you are.

There are lots of people that love their rank

and never let go with an ash the only time I ever use it is on is on media

Interestingly enough

Which is a funny one so no I don't have it on my credit card, no my post is not addressed to it.

And I kind of dropped the rank about four years ago when I left the army.

But every now again, I go, am I really a major general?

Yeah, it comes up on the screen every nine again. For many of our

viewers they'll have seen you in recent weeks and months popping up on mainstream

media to give opinions which lots of people would say are quite critical

of the position of the British government. How unusual is that for someone who's been in your line of work?

Yeah, Ash, we tend to be gagged, if I'm being quite honest, when we're serving.

We're not allowed to speak to the media without express position.

...