Sergeant Steven Roberts was from the Cornish town of Wadebridge

Samantha Roberts, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, said it was ironic that the US leader was prepared to meet the UK war widows while Tony Blair was not.

She admitted she would like to meet Mr Bush, though she revealed she was not one of the widows invited to talk to him during his state visit.

Her husband Sergeant Steven Roberts, who was from Wadebridge in Cornwall, was shot during a riot near Basra in March.

Mrs Roberts told Channel 4 News: "I think it is quite ironic that Mr Bush is prepared to see the relatives but Mr Blair hasn't invited anybody."

She added that she believed it was possible to find out a lot more about an issue by meeting someone face-to-face and "looking them in the eye".

Troops needed

Despite admiring his decision, she said she would still ask tough questions if she was allowed to meet the President.

"I would ask if shock and awe was an absolute necessity.

"I would also ask him to consider not to pull troops out. We need them there for at least six months.

"We believe that Steve didn't die in vain anyway, but I would like to know if the actions that they used were absolutely necessary - I'd like to know if there was another way they could have done it."

Sergeant Roberts, 33, from the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, was shot near Al Zubayr near Basra.