FOUR years after coalition forces invaded Iraq to depose its evil dictator and seize his weapons of mass destruction, Dorset's armed forces are still counting the cost.

For many Iraqis the destruction of Saddam Hussein's tyrannical regime was met with rejoicing amid hopes his deposal would herald a fresh start for their battered nation.

But yesterday's bleak headlines, announcing the deaths of 14 people in a series of bomb attacks in northern Iraq, reveal just how far the wild optimism of four years ago has spiralled into resentment, anger and violence.

Royal Marine Ian Seymour, whose wife Lianne lives in Poole with their son, was among eight British commandos killed when their helicopter crashed in the opening days of the war.

Sergeant Les Hehir, 34, who served with 29 Commando Royal Artillery, was also killed in the opening days of the invasion.

The father-of-two, who was based in Poole, was in a helicopter crash, which killed eight British serviceman.

But the bloodshed has continued unabated and four years after the 28-year-old died, the flickering new dawn appears to have faded, plunging the war-torn country into darkness.

Dorset servicemen are still losing their lives as they step up to the firing line, braving snipers, roadside bombs and attacks from insurgents in a bid to bring peace and stability to the fractured nation.

Last month, Rifleman Dan Coffey, from the 1st Battalion the Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry, became the latest casualty when two gunmen ambushed his patrol in Basra.

The 21-year-old, who was serving with the 2nd Battalion The Rifles after completing his first tour with 1DDLI, was on top cover, where the soldier exposes his head and shoulders outside the armoured vehicle to protect his colleagues, when he was shot.

He had volunteered to return to Iraq for a second tour just two months after completing a seven-month tour with 1DDLI.

And in July last year Corporal John Johnston Cosby of 1DDLI died after insurgents ambushed the team he was leading in an operation to arrest an Iraqi responsible for co-ordinating attacks on British troops in Basra.

  • Desmond Swayne, MP for the New Forest West is a major in the Territorial Army and has served in Iraq, writes Louise Isaacs.

He said: "It's a pretty grim anniversary. I can't imagine any of us four years ago thinking it would still be like it is now. Could anything different have been done? I suspect so.

"We made enormous mistakes early on. There were too few troops on the ground and our policy of the complete annihilation of the existing police force has left us in the proverbial as a result."

Brett Bader, a TA officer who served in Iraq, said: "Our involvement in Iraq has always been to help the Iraqi people get back on their feet and we've played a very important part in that.

"So we need to maintain that presence until the Iraqis can look after themselves.

"I think its necessary that we hang in there, and it may be for another few years with a smaller force, to give guidance to the Iraqi people as and when they need it.

"The exit strategy will be discussed when the time is right and I think the people serving there at the moment probably have a much better idea when that will be."