WAR creates plenty of casualties, and it seems that in Iraq the latest is the country's cultural life.

Post the US-led invasion, at least 155 singers, 65 actors and 60 painters have been killed by Islamic radicals determined to stamp out all culture associated with the West.

Cinemas, theatres, galleries and music venues in Basra and Baghdad are also being destroyed.

Ironically, Saddam Hussein encouraged the country's artists, but since he was overthrown around 80 per cent have left the country.

The persecution of artists and singers is nothing new - the Nazis banned paintings and burned books - but it does remind us that often the effects of an invasion and subsequent regime change go much deeper than at first reported.

While the loss of life is clearly the most devastating effect, curbing artists' freedom of speech is a primary tool of any government looking to keep its people in line.

How terrifying must it be to expect a knock on the door simply because you are more influenced by Kylie than by Mohammed Al-Gubbenchi.

And the targeting of singers who perform Western pop music, or actors who are considered to be appearing in pro-W estern plays shows just how much resentment there is to the invading forces.

Religious extremism can never be condoned, but one has to wonder how bad conditions have to get before innocent artists are killed, simply because they are seen to represent our - the invaders' - society.