Anni Rainbow, mother of Matthew Cornish, who died when the 1st Battalion of The Light Infantry came under mortar fire, is co-founder of the Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases with Britain's
best-known peace campaigner Lindis Percy.
Corporal Cornish, 29, who left a widow, Abby and two children, son Ethan, three and daughter, Libby, 16 months, joined the Army when he was 18 and was on his third tour of duty in Iraq when his base in Basra was attacked.
His mother, who refused to sign a form allowing him to join the Air Cadets, did not want him to have an Army career but after he lost his job in Leeds he walked into a recruiting office.
Ms Rainbow, 57, who has another son, Simon, 26, regards the war in Iraq as illegal and blames Britain's involvement there and in Afghanistan on what she sees as Prime Minister Tony Blair's unquestioning relationship with United States President George Bush.
Every Tuesday night for five years she and Ms Percy have held a peace protest outside Menwith Hill, the United States military base near Harrogate.
For Ms Rainbow, who has to use a wheelchair, her vigil has a special poignancy.
Speaking at her home in Otley, she recalled conversations with Matthew about serving in a war she condemns as illegal. "He didn't say much. He was divinely non-political, bless him."
Asked what she would say if she had an opportunity to speak to Mr Blair, she said: "Perhaps I would just ask 'Why?' I suppose I might be tempted to ask him if he sleeps at night, but I don't suppose he would have much trouble answering that."
Ms Rainbow added: "I feel very sorry for him that he will probably be remembered for things that he would not wish to be remembered for. I was so excited when Labour was elected and this is what we have got. It breaks my heart."
And President Bush? "I can't think of a good word to say about him. There must be good words, but I can't think of them.
"But if it was not Bush there would be someone equally as bad."
Using the measured words of a committed Quaker, she said: "It is ironic that Matt was killed for their war which I object to so strongly. The United States is the richest country in the world and the strongest in the world. It could virtually do anything it wanted. It could be such a force for good, but it is not.
"As long as Britain's foreign policy is coupled with the United States, I cannot see much hope at all for anyone. America will get whatever it wants by playing the terrorist card. I think we are worth more than a pack of lies from politicians."
She added: "Heartbreaking though it may be that Matt has been killed, I can't help but think of the unnamed thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan people who have lost their lives be cause of the lies of Bush and Blair. Somebody loved them too."