YESTERDAY'S admission by Tony Blair that the West underestimated the problems in a post-Saddam Iraq is not the first time the former Prime Minister has expressed regret for what happened after the war.

Of course, Mr Blair is preparing his defence for when the Chilcot report is published next month.

Although the exact details of that report are still a closely guarded secret, the former Prime Minister is expected to come in for substantial criticism.

Speaking with the benefit of hindsight, Mr Blair accepts that Western post-invasion planning was vague and poorly organised.

We agree with his withering assessment.

The failure to prepare for the postwar period has been well documented. Britain's contribution to the reconstruction of Iraq was over-optimistic, badly co-ordinated and wholly unable to delegate authority to local institutions which were riddled with corruption.

Our brave soldiers were under-provisioned, outgunned and outnumbered. The subsequent descent into chaos and the humiliating withdrawal from Basra was a major blow to Britain's international prestige.

Now Mr Blair is calling for more western boots on the ground in Syria and Iraq to roll back the threat from Isis.

We agree with his assessment that airstrikes alone cannot defeat the terrorists, although drone strikes have seriously hampered their operations, but disagree with his belief that only Western troops can defeat Isis on the battlefield.

If the experience of Iraq and Afghanistan taught us anything it is that the West may win the war but it cannot hope to win the peace.

The West should always stand ready to help liberal-minded people who want to create a tolerant and peaceful society, but it should not get drawn into another unwinnable war.