Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell has launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Tony Blair over the war in Iraq.
Sir Menzies criticised the Government's foreign policy, claiming it was ineffective in the war against terrorism and he echoed comments made by Britain's most senior soldier, General Sir Richard Dannatt.
Earlier this week he had claimed that the presence of UK troops had exacerbated the problems in some areas of Iraq and called for the forces to be brought home soon.
Sir Menzies told delegates at the Scottish Liberal Democrats' autumn conference in Dunfermline, Fife, that Iraq was approaching a state of civil war.
He said: "What Sir Richard Dannatt said this week is what we've all been thinking - we kicked the door in, our presence exacerbates the security problems and our forces should come back home soon."
And he told delegates: "I think the one inevitable conclusion of the last 24 hours is this - if the most senior soldier in the country with the responsibility for the implementation of Government policy says our forces should be brought back soon then that can only be measured in months and not years."
The Lib Dem leader attacked Mr Blair over his decision to send troops to Iraq, saying: "In foreign policy the Prime Minister has elevated belief over evidence, conviction over judgment and instinct over understanding.
"Quite simply he has presided over a foreign policy which is neither ethical nor effective."
But he pledged the Lib Dems would continue their opposition to the conflict, saying: "Because the truth is that security is not being gained, but is being lost.
"Terrorism is not being defeated, it is being invigorated. Freedom is not being spread, it is being undermined."
