A question of helicopters

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown faced repeated questions about the lack of helicopters available to British armed forces at Prime Minister’s question time today. The direct implication being that his repeated cost cutting in recent years is now directly causing British casualties. And those casualties are beginning to mount with 8 British soldiers killed in one day at the end of last week.

Like many Brits I have no idea why we are in Afghanistan. It’s a country that has never, ever been successfully subdued in the whole of human history. And to suggest that western values and democracies can be imposed on such a diverse country always seemed a little bizarre.

David Cameron, the less than convincing leader of the Tory party of course thinks it is a national scandal. He does have a point of course. If we as a country insist on invading other people’s countries we really should equip our troops with everything they need to succeed – and stay alive.

I read somewhere the other day that we have sent less than 300 armoured trucks to Afghanistan in the same time that the Americans have sent 12,000. I also read somewhere that their casualties are pretty fearsome too. And they have plenty of helicopters.

Which brings me to the point of this ramble. Some other loathsome politician, anxious to score brownie points at the expense of soldiers lives asked our revered Prime Minisiter about our commitment to aircraft carriers.

Those soldiers dodging bombs and bullets in Afghanistan will be relieved to know that our commitment to aircraft carriers remains strong. Apparently we are going to get 3.

That should prove really useful in the deserts and mountains. Which is kind of the point. You don’t buy warmongering machines off the shelf. They have to be planned for – and built. Aircraft carriers probably seemed a good idea several decades ago when the idea of invading Afghanistan for no good reason would have been considered insanity. Now we need helicopters – but when they turn up in five or ten years time – our leaders will probably be invading some far-off island paradise where aircraft carriers might actuaally be useful.