A new paper from the government trots out predictable conclusions: Afghanistan is failing due to lack of support from NATO allies, lack of equipment and the poverty of success in nation-building. There is little that we can do about France and Germany, or the unwillingness of Afghans to trade warlords for police (better the protection agency, you know), but as for equipment:
In a list of "critical areas to fill", the paper says Nato still needs three infantry battalions, more helicopters, more aircraft and more training teams to help the Afghan army.
It also raises concerns about the situation after November, when more than 2,300 US Marines are to be withdrawn from the south, where British forces are based.
Budget constrants are finally forcing rationalisation of pork within the Ministry of Defence, as beloved employment projects are cut:
Douglas Carswell, a Tory MP who has written a paper on scrapping the Lynx deal with the Italian firm Finmeccanica, said: "This is a bad deal and the sooner we get out of it the better.
"We could announce, for example, that we would buy the same amount of helicopters from Sikorsky - and still have £580 million to spend addressing funding shortages elsewhere in the Armed Forces."
He added that the Sikorsky Seahawk helicopters would be available within 12 months. The Lynx is not expected in service until 2013.
The American-built Seahawks would cost £6 million, or the MoD could buy the well-regarded EADS Eurocopter at £4.5 million each rather than the £14 million for each Lynx.
Pork still rules in one quarter:
But one programme that defence sources have confirmed is certain to go
ahead will be the two aircraft carriers being built for £4 billion in
Scottish constituencies with strong Labour Party ties.