Delusion and denial

Hail Australia

The first Government voice to talk sense on Afghanistan is Australia's new Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon. He says the war in Afghanistan will be lost unless NATO and its allies change tactics, overhauling military and civil programes designed to bring stability to the country.

Sadly it's still delusion and denial at home and in the US. I questioned the PM on his statement to the Commons on Monday: -

Paul Flynn (Newport, West) (Lab): Does not the gathering storm in Kosovo and its possible implications for our stretched armed services, mean that there is an even more urgent reason to re-examine not our general commitment in Afghanistan, but the particular commitment in Helmand province, which is failing to meet all its original objectives, at a grievous cost in human lives?

The Prime Minister: I do not accept what my hon. Friend says. Last week, I made it absolutely clear that the process in which we are involved in Afghanistan is one of moving towards greater Afghan control of their security by building up their military and policing forces, and having a programme of economic, social and political development that can benefit the Afghan people. I believe that there is wide support for that among the coalition. Yes, it is true that the purpose of being in Afghanistan was to remove the Taliban and to prevent al Qaeda from getting control. However, it is also true that now that Afghanistan is a democracy, we must bolster it and help its economic, social and political development.

Dispiriting that Gordon did not get the point that Helmand province was a three year campaign of reconstruction without a shot being fired. It is marginally true that Afghanistan is a democracy but a fragile one stuck together with bribes and corruption.

Lucky escape

I am indebted to Chris Gale for this great story.

A man who lives at Lake Conroe (50 miles north of Houston, Texas) saw a ball bouncing around strangely in the lake and went to investigate. It turned out to be a flathead catfish who had obviously tried to swallow a basketball which became stuck in his mouth! The fish was totally exhausted from trying to dive, but unable to because the ball would always bring him back up to the surface. The man tried numerous times to get the ball out but was unsuccessful. He finally had his wife cut the ball in order to deflate it and release the hungry catfish.