Firstly let us not forget that Tony Blair was responsible for sending our troops to Afghanistan. Admittedly it was a NATO operation but as usual Britain provided the bulk of the personnel. Having said that the last 11 years have been controlled by a Tory government and now the “withdrawal” has been overseen by the most inept collection of minsters it has ever been the misfortune of this country to have in power. Not withstanding the fact that we have pissed off just about every country in Europe by leaving the EU, wee now find proof that the “special” relationship with America is nothing more than illusion that has been shored up with meaningless rhetoric.
It has not taken long to realise how isolated as a country we now are, few friends and far to many countries who could care less about a relationship with us!
I watched the debate in the House of Commons and all the righteous indignation being spouted from all sides. A debate on the withdrawal from Afghanistan is a prime example of discussing why the horse has bolted and is now owned by someone else! There were some powerful speeches and there is no doubt many MP’s are genuinely outraged about the withdrawal and it’s utter shambles, as we all should be. Watching these comfortably paid men and women pass the buck around and ask for all sorts of action to be taken, whilst pointing out the terrible betrayal was an unedifying sight. I will no pass comment on the role played by Dominic Raab, too many have already condemned him, except to say why is anyone surprised! Day after interminable day we see more and more evidence of why this bunch are unfit to be in power and one can only hope that the Conservative party cut their losses as the embarrassment continues and rise up and get rid of them. Unfortunately Johnson is (unbelievably) popular and therefore they can ride his coat tails to keep their seats!
It is heartbreaking to watch the Afghanistan tragedy unfold but we will soon forget we always do? We have forgotten Iraq, Libya, Syria and more of the countries we have invaded under the banner of humanitarian actions, when in reality it was usually just an excuse and far more prosaic than we were ever lead to believe but it’s okay we can leave a trail of chaos wherever we go under the banner of democracy. The first Gulf war was a legitimate rescue of Kuwait but any action since has left an unstable region where the very enemy that the West fears most has flourished. It’s a shame Afghanistan only has opium and lapis lazuli and not oil, if it had we would still be there!
Before I go today, I would like to express my sadness at the death of Sean Locke. I though he was a brilliantly inventive comedian who never failed to make me laugh with his direct and weird take on the world.
Stay well
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