Number of British troops lost in Iraq war:  179

Number of British troops lost in Afghanistan to date:  179 and counting……

The time has come for the British people to have more insight into our war in Afghanistan.

Questions that Gordon Brown must answer:

-    What are our current mission objectives in Afghanistan?

-    When do we know when the mission goals have been achieved?

-    What is our exit strategy?

-    What successes have been achieved thus far in this campaign?

-    How can Britain and the USA ensure a fair burden with NATO in this campaign?

-    How has the Government reviewed whether military equipment used by soldiers is fit for purpose?  Why do military top brass criticise their equipment?

-   Are their enough Army helicopters to get troops in and out of the theatre of battle quickly enough?  Can the Government see any evidence of troops entering the battle theatre in slow moving vehicles leaving them exposed to enemy attack?

-    Has opium production increased or decreased in Afghanistan in the past 12 months?  What evidence does the Government have when reports indicate Opium production has radically increased?

-    Has Taliban geographical control increased or decreased in past 12 months and will the Government map out their perspective of the locations of Taliban spheres of influence, (including that of Pakistan).

It is only fair that every citizen, particularly soldiers and their families, know and understand our objectives.  They risk their lives…it is the least we owe them.

It is not unpatriotic to ask these questions.  It does not undermine our armed forces.  It does not show a divided nation.

I hope that Liam Fox probes these direct but fair questions.

As I sat down for lunch, I switched on the news.  More soldiers bodies arriving from Afghanistan.  More lives lost.  More families devastated. 

This got me thinking.  What is our remaining mission in Afghanistan? What is the exit strategy? What is the timescale?  It then dawned on me that I couldn’t answer the question….and obviously neither can this Government. 

Coupled with this war with no deadline is that our brave armed forces are being asking to risk their lives with inferior equipment….old equipment, jeeps with no armour.  What sort of nation asks it soldiers to lay down their lives with, what is in effect, ‘bows & arrows’!   This may seem extreme but surely worthy of a national discussion and a review.  We know military top brass are unhappy with their equipment…yet we have the Government pinning we have the best equipped forces in the world.

The War in Afganistan must transcend politics.  We need to understand as a nation whether we have the right equipment in place to protect our troops.  And if there is a need for investment in the best equipment with the best armoured protection….be it tanks, vehicles, air support eg helicopters, we need to do it.  Would any of the Cabinet say that they would be happy fighting and risking their lives with the current level of equipment provided?  Would they risk their lives?  Then why ask that of our forces?

Also we need to ensure that NATO members play their full role in this war.  French, German, Spanish soldiers.  Russia must also play their part as a radicalised region is a threat to all.

So our military goals…yes the statement to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan is worthy and we all want to see this.  But what does that look like?  How long will that take?  How many lives be lost fighting for that goal?  How many more soldiers will die?

Yes Afghanistan and Pakistan are the breeding grounds for terrorism…yes Osama Bin Laden needs to be brought to justice.  Yes the sooner we see the end to Al Qaeda the better…..but let’s also be realistic, especially with our armed forces and their families.

Just as quickly as our brave men destroy Taliban units and kill Al Qaeda terrorists, new cells take their place.  It is an unending viscous circle.  Even in the UK we know of communities being radicalised to fight within.  That is the root and cause of this.  There is a neverending stream of radicalised young men and women prepared to give their lives for their cause.

So if new terrorists / fighters replace those who are fallen, this could go on for years and years.  This becomes a new ‘Vietnam’, the war that is unwinnable. 

This does not mean we pull the troops out.  I am not a pacifist.  But just someone who wants to understand and get some answers from this Government.  This means Gordon has to answer the above questions.  If our soldiers are prepared to die….they should be told what they are dieing for…..and for how much longer!

This is not an issue that can be brushed under the carpet until after the next election.

Did you sit and listen to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speech last Friday?  Lasted 90 minutes and was fascinating in many ways.  But let’s just pose one reflection.

The Ayatollah took many across the world by stating that of Iran’s most treacherous enemies, the UK was number 1.  The crowd reacted by chanting death to Great Britain.

So, how come the UK has suddenly shot ahead of the previously most hated states the USA and of course Israel?  Maybe because Barack Obama has started the winds of change of opinion of the West within Iran and the Ayatollah felt on less safe ground attacking the USA.  The UK was a safe target as the UK are seen as poodles to the USA but also insignificant change has occurred in the UK to undermine the Ayatollahs statement.

Good thing for the world that Iran, may….just may…be playing it cooler to the USA and wait to see what other words and actions come from the USA.  Maybe their hard line is thawing?  Let’s watch but don’t hope for any radical treatment against the UK or our Embassy in Tehran!

In the flash of an eye, Gordon Brown rushed to announce his year long ’private enquiry’ into the run-up, causes and aftermath of the Iraq war.  Disappointingly, and a rather poor show, he felt the need to make a statement at the same time the pre-organised Hustings were taking place for the election of the next Speaker.  TBB thinks this was a rude gesture, as this was a statement that did not have to be hastily made, especially at the same time when MP’s wanted to hear and question the next Speaker.

So, turning to the statement.  Obviously Gordon Brown has stated he has learnt lessons, will be more open & transparent moving forward, respect democracy and the role of Parliament.  Then today, he announces another Independent enquiry.  What is wrong with Parliament?  Why not the Foreign Affairs Committee seeing all the confidential information?  What is the role of an MP and a select Committee if it cannot hold the Executive to account?  Today was another sad day for democracy when Parliament was bypassed over to unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats.  Brown really has a contempt for being held to account by elected representatives.

Coupled with this announcement was that the independent enquiry would be held completely behind closed doors and not in public view.  So we have ‘Independent’ bureaucrats, selected by the Government, reviewing evidence in Private, releasing their report after, (yes after the next election), with no accountability to our elected representatives. 

TBB gets that not all information can be released in order to protect the armed forces and ongoing military operations.  But to place ALL of the enquiry behind closed doors is shameful.  An abuse of Government.  The enquiry gets access to all the recorded phone conversations between Blair and Bush….why can we see them in advance?

This Prime Minister cannot call himself a democrat and should hang his head in shame.  People have given their lives for this campaign…..their families deserve better.

………….you can see the puppet strings on a Thunderbird puppet.

Have you noticed the dreadful state of reporting of Iran’s Presidential elections in the Sunday Papers.  Whether Ahmoud Armadinejad had been elected President or Postman Pat, Dick Dastardly or Lady Penelope, it would not have mattered.  The President is a weak political leader in every sense of the word because the real power and decision making resides with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali.

When Ayatollah Ali became Supreme Leader, (after he had been President), he ensured he took many of the powers of the presidency with him into the office, turning it into an “omnipotent overseer of Iran’s political scene”. Officials under Khamenei influence the country’s various powerful institutions, including the parliament, the presidency, the judiciary, the Revolutionary Guards, the military, the intelligence services, the police agencies, the clerical elite, the Friday prayer leaders and much of the media, as well as various nongovernmental foundations, organizations, councils, seminaries and business groups.

So just remember Ahmadinejad is a mouthpiece for the real power and leader in Iran….Ayatollah Ali. 

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali.

I am Number 1 in Iran…allegedly!

Gordon Brown is eagerly rubbing his hands with glea today as he studies the electoral campaign and results coming from Iran.  He is gaining ideas how he can win the next general election.  He has two countries now he can reference Zimbabwe & Iran!

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the current Iranian President, despite being resented and deeply unpopular has won re-election to the Presidency by not just a tiny margin but a colossal landslide of 63%.  How can this be?

Certainly some things don’t add up…..and claims of election rigging and electoral irregularity are being shouted from all corners of Iran….

Bizarre coincidences or evidence of unfair play?…….you decide….

-  The reformist opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi was expected to be neck and neck with Ahmadinejad and go into a Second ballot

-  Not only opposition politicians but foreign observers and foreign journalists in Iran were stunned at the result.  Nothing pointed to this!

-  The huge turnout of 80% would be expected to favour opposition leaders as more make their views known

-  The young were turning in their millions to kick out Ahmadinejad…the young normally not involved in politics

-  Same could be said of the millions of suppressed women

-   Opposition newspapers had appeared this morning with “large gaps where articles had been blanked out”, suggesting stories about alleged voting irregularities claims had been removed. 

-  Security forces are on the streets and dealing ‘harshly’ with any protesters.

-  Many social networking websites and text messaging services have been down or blocked.  Much of  Mousavi ’s campaign was fought over the Internet and text messages.  It was the main method of communication and a sheer coincidence that it is now down?

 -  Mousavi has no voice to communicate.  He cant get access to state tv or newspapers.  Opposition papers, as mentioned, have gaping wholes where stories have been removed by the State and phone lines and Internet is down.  Hence all the people will hear is state tv proclaiming a great victory for Ahmadinejad.  And if people are unhappy and want to protest, in the interests of state security, they will get a bettering from the police and army!

So Gordon, as you look at recent election results, look at opinion polls, you know how deeply unpopular you are.  There is no chance of you winning an election….but there is a way you can pave the way…..

A blueprint for Gordon’s electoral victory……..

- Bring all media, (newspapers & TV), under state control

-  Bring all forms of communication under state control—phones, Internet, mobile networks

-  Strengthen army and police support on the street

-  Call an election.  Despite the result, proclaim that you have won with 63% of the vote.  Then switch off all phone lines, mobile networks, Internet access.  Ensure the media write proclaiming a great victory based on a press release from Mandelson.  Flood the streets with Police.  And then weather the storm.

Will it work…..well let’s watch what happens in Iran….!