Prince Andrew condemns Bush attack on Iraq

London: Britain's Prince Andrew on Tuesday condemned US President George W. Bush for failing to listen to Britain during the conflict in Iraq.

Ahead of a 10-day visit to America to promote UK business, he said the aftermath of the Iraq war had left Britons with a "healthy scepticism" towards what is said in Washington.

"If you are looking at colonialism, if you are looking at operations on an international scale, if you are looking at understanding each other's culture, understanding how to operate in a military insurgency campaign we have been through them all," he said.

"We've won some, lost some, drawn some," he told the International Herald Tribune newspaper.

The prince said that while Britain remained America's number one ally, the post-war situation in Iraq has bred uncertainty toward America.

"Why didn't anyone listen to what was said and the advice that was given?" questioned the prince.

He added that it was, after all, the Americans who had asked for advice: "It's not as if we had been forcing that across the Atlantic."

Now, as a full-time trade envoy for Britain, Andrew said he realised "the real people who are actually making the United Kingdom what it is are the people who are doing business."