And the expertise managing, say, the Venezuelan operation becomes transferable to turning around an operation elsewhere.

FORBES: Cement meets the cyberworld

The head of the Clydesdale Bank is to step down from the group that controls its Australian parent company to focus on turning around the UK operation.

BBC: David Thorburn

ComBots runs several other public and private competitions a year, and has been turning a profit since its third year of operation.

FORBES: Robots Battle With Fire And Saw This Weekend At ComBots VII

Turning to events after the war, Sir Christopher said UK co-operation in the mission should have been contingent on a thorough post-war plan for Iraq but, instead, the UK was "taken for granted".

BBC: Blair's view on Iraq 'tightened' after Bush meeting

However, first Mr Pastrana enforced the retirement of two army generals accused of collaboration with such groups, and then this week a big police operation shut down a huge drug laboratory run by the paramilitaries, capable of turning out eight tonnes of cocaine a month.

ECONOMIST: Colombians dream of peace