Beer And Sandwiches With The Taliban at Number 10 Anyone?

As Centre Right asks: what does Des Browne really mean by saying we should negotiate with the Taliban? He told the Daily Telegraph that we need to bring them "into a frame of mind that they accept that their political ambitions will be delivered by politics."

Surely, in a country like Afghanistan, we are dealing with old tribal emnities overlaid with strong cultural traditions of family, honour and the relative place of men and women in society together with various shades of Muslim interpretations of that religion (and little or no toleration of other religions) as well as by the infestation of extreme Islamists intent on spreading their beliefs by any means available.

Who are we going to talk to? More importantly, what are we going to talk to them about?

At least Adams and McGuiness, as members of the IRA, had reasonably well-defined, if bigotted, aims.

I can't believe Des Browne is totally naive - incompetent perhaps - so I wonder what he really means?

Another Breach of Trust?

Should we be surprised that HM Coroner has delivered a devasting blow to Gordon Brown's government?

Questions must now be asked about Gordon Brown's culpability in the death of Captain James Philippson in June 2006 - a Britain who displayed the very highest standard of courage and leadership that we have come to expect from our armed services.

His father has described the current Prime Minister (and former Chancellor of the Exchequer) as that "miserable, parsimonious Mr Brown". I suspect that Mr Philippson senior is not usually given to overstatement even when talking about the death of his son. Once again Gordon Brown's armour-plated reputation for "prudence" has been exposed for what it is: a complete sham.

Apart from the very great tragedy of Captain Philippson's death, it is another indicator of the depths that Gordon Brown's government have sunk when the part-time Secretary of State for Defence has to put up a Minister of State to field the media questions.

"Defence minister Bob Ainsworth said that provision of kit to troops in Afghanistan had been dramatically improved since Capt Philippson's death. But he acknowledged that he could not promise no British soldier would ever again die as a result of equipment shortages. This is not the first time delays in the supply chain have caused casualties in theatre. I can't promise you that it will be the last. We are operating in very difficult, very complicated circumstances. Getting supplies to the frontline in a difficult theatre will always be difficult. But I have to say to you that there has been a huge improvement, recognised by everybody, in the kit, equipment and supplies to our people both in Iraq and Afghanistan over the last couple of years."

So that's alright then?

"No More Resignations" says a Brownite

No, not Gordon this time but his old mate Des Browne.

According to the BBC, Browne has said that there will be no more Cabinet Ministers resigning over the donations scandal.

Oh dear! I hope that means he knows that the revelations about Alan Johnson's problem are easily explained. But of course, that does very pointedly exclude Wendy Alexander who leads the Scottish Labour Party. Perhaps he's not so confident about her.

Unfortunately, it does include Harridan (sic) Harman. Let's hope Des is wrong on this one. After all, he is wrong about most things!

"The Second Highest Defence Budget in the World"

Des Browne - or Swiss Toni, as he is now known - has made some outrageous statements in his time but this might be the best - or worst - ever!

The Spectator's Coffee House blog here has some interesting observations about his latest claim that make him look even more like a second-hand car salesman.

"Statistics are like a beautiful woman - they have to be massaged frequently so they give the right message to people."

Defence Matters - doesn't it?

Des Browne was very unconvincing on the Today programme this morning when he tried to rebut the criticisms of the five ex-Chiefs of the Defence Staff.

The fact is that this Labour government has not devoted sufficient funding to the military given that we are heavily involved in two major conflicts. The Treasury has not made the necessary adjustments between departments to take this fact into account.

Another example of its incompetence? The Department of Health forecasts an underspend on its budget for 2007-8 of £1.8 billion. That's a lot of money that could have been spent on the armed services.

Boom and bust, Mr Brown? Tell us about it......