FORMER US President George W Bush believed he was on a “mission from God” to crush Iraqi insurgents and regain control of the country following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, newly released British government files reveal.

The president had been egged on by “bullshit” claims from his generals and had to be given a “dose of reality” after demanding US forces “kick ass” in the face of rising Iraqi resistance, said former deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage.

Mr Armitage was scathing about boasts by the US commander in Iraq that he could put down a major uprising in the city of Fallujah within days in a private meeting with Britain’s ambassador Sir David Manning on April 14 2004.