Sir Richard Dannatt lays a few blows on the British Government.

The head of the British Army, Sir Richard Dannatt, is laying a few blows on Her Majesty's Government over the lack of resources (helicopters etc) in Afghanistan
to help our troops. Apparently, New Labour sources are muttering about possibly Sir Richard being "political". I suppose there is a fine line between "fighting your corner" and being openly disloyal.
UK Premier Gordon Brown looked absolutely awful yesterday in front of the Defence Select Committee by trying to avoid giving a direct answer. Apparently, Defence Minister
Bob Ainsworth is 21 out of 23 Labour portfolio holders and gives mediocrity a bad name according to Jeff Randall in today's Daily Telegraph. There have been five defence secretaries since 2005.
If I was Brown, I would have blamed the NATO allies for not stumping up combat troops
such as the Germans just to divert attention.

Gordon Brown is taking a few blows to his body.

Estimed British Prime Minister Gordon Brown seems to be a sitting duck for the criticism of past and serving UK military officers. His bright idea of appointing experts to his government, such as Lord Darzi and Lord Malloch-Brown, has fizzled out as they are leaving the sinking ship. Former minister and ex-CBI luminary Digby Jones appears to be a one-man opposition party as he vigorously takes on the fight to New Labour.
The British unemployment figures are just awful and give testimony to the recent negative forecasts of over 3m for 2010. The Chief Medical Officer looks uncomfortable on breakfast TV as the BBC presenter does not believe a word he says.
I supposes this follows the World Health Organisation (WHO) contradicting the British government on the future availability of a vaccine for swine flu.
http://www.searchaccountant.co.uk/Accountants/Accountants-In-Dundee.html

Gordon Brown is having a poor war in Afghanistan.

Folllowing the recent dreadful casualties suffered by the British Army, Gordon Brown is having a poor war in Afghanistan. In a trenchant article in the Independent, Bruce Anderson accuses the UK premier of corporate manslaughter. Brown has not spent the money required on helicopters and armoured vehicles. Anderson argues, however, if the West pulls out then the Taleban would regain control.
I remember reading that UK forces would sometimes pass by Victorian memorials to earlier campaigns in Afghanistan.
In the Times Matthew Parris simply says we will not win. The tribal politics are too complicated for a start.

I suppose the Afghanistan campaign has suffered from mission creep. The initial plan from what I gather was to kill Bin Laden and wipe out as much as the Taleban as possible. Then, the objectives have been expanded to introducing development and Western-style democracy. These are very expensive. Now, another objective is to protect Pakistan through our presence in Afghanistan.

Fighting wars (and not paying for them) is not very good for currencies, interest rates etc. The UK will probably run out of money to fund its involvement in Afghanistan.

Liam Halligan is a bit concerned about the UK printing presses.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph economist Liam Halligan has expressed his concern about the quantitative easing (QE) being carried out by the Bank of England. This has not led to a lowering of UK gilt yields and will increase inflation. Halligan says the banks are keeping the QE cash themselves, on reserve or lending to their off-balance sheet vehicles.