Next week President Obama is expected to announce his decision on the deployment of additional US troops to Afghanistan. Obama has sacrificed a good deal of his goodwill through too much strategic analysis instead of clear, efficient and quick decision-making. See Fraser Nelson on Britain’s AWOL ally.

When the decision on troop numbers is announced you might like to refer to this primer in the New York Times, which you can use to judge Obama’s committment to solving the Afghanistan mess:

• 80,000 more US troops: the highest number requested by US General McCrystal, but quickly rejected by Obama. [Note: the US troop surge in Iraq made a difference according to some].
• 40,000: which US military strategists suggest offers enough to gain control of Kandahar and Helmand from the Taliban, address weaknesses in control of Afghan/Pakistan border regions, and a large contingent to train the Afghan security forces. The preferred option by the military and others.
• 20,000-35,000: similar to above but fewer trainers, and at the lower level fewer troops in Helmand. The lower the number the less the chance of success.
• 10-15,000: main focus on training Afghan security forces, and reliance on drones. The weak option.
• 10,000 NATO troops which the New York times sees as problematic, as NATO allies struggle to provide close to half that figure.

If you’ve the time and interest, Anthony Cordesman’s analysis of Obama’s Afghan Strategy Checklist is a rewarding read. Since listening to General Sir Mike Jackson, I’ve come to agree that a large troop deployment will likely achieve the desired result faster, which is to put it crudely, armed nation building.

Shane Greer has spotted the advert in the New Statesman for a Labour Party candidate to fight Michael Gove at the general election.

Quick, quick. No idea how long they’ll remain easily accessible on the BBC’s website HERE. There are 17 pictures of Camberley past and present. Click on this picture to enlarge.

On a more general point. The BBC website has a section on Surrey, containing news, events, people, nature, history, religion, and arts. It also has a page on the proposed mosque in Camberley, and Camberley Kate. I think this stifles the potential and creativity of local websites. I’d like to see the BBC provide it’s content to locally-based websites, rather than wanting to provide this itself.

Last night’s BBC Question Time debate was a deal more measured than in previous weeks. David Dimbleby began with an introductory comment on the Chilcot Iraq Inquiry. I’m afraid to admit a feeling of depression coming over me. Iraq war, it’s history, mistakes were made, Blair and Alastair Campbell culpable, not our finest hour, and now lets move on please.

But no. The press and the media have been, rightly I suppose, exercised by the daily revelations from the Inquiry.

Watching the programme maybe you detected, and it may also be your opinion as it is mine, a general weariness on the subject of Iraq. I think we’ve all now concluded that Tony Blair was partial with the truth, and that many, many mistakes were made. Therefore, I don’t believe the Chilcot Inquiry, revelatory as it maybe, will change anyones opinions on the Iraq war.

No matter how hard Lord Falconer tried last night to protect Tony Blair’s honour, people’s minds are now made up on the subject.

One final comment before moving on from this topic. The moment to have cleansed our national soul on the Iraq war, so to speak, was at the time of the Hutton Inquiry. Unfortunately, Blair and Campbell wanted a narrow inquiry and chose a partial establishment figure. Result one unhappy country and an amazing missed opportunity. Now it’s just too late. Sure, continue with Chilcot, but please press and media don’t burden us all with its comings and goings. They are many more important things in our national life.

The BBC reports that BAE Systems is to cut 642 jobs, with some to go in its Frimley operation. Not good news for our local economy.

One thing to remember is that what the unions involved – The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions - have said, bearing in mind that the ‘left’ are generally dismissive of what they call the ‘armaments’ industry. Here’s the quotation,

“The staff at Insyte [a division of BAE Systems] produce cutting edge technology, these are highly skilled jobs which the UK can not afford to lose,” said general secretary Hugh Scullion.

If presenting data on the web is what you need, then here’s a new tool to help you. It’s called Timetric. Rather wonderfully, it’s a product of Cambridge-based Inkling Software.

Here’s an example, on the price of cheddar cheese. Click on the graph to enlarge. I must say, this graph presents quiet startling data on how prices have risen.

The comment from James Morris to my blog post on the effectiveness of a minimum price for alcohol, notes that the funding for the Centre for Economic and Business Research’s report is by drinks company SABMiller. Apologies. I was wrong to suggest that the CEBR report was produced for the Scottish government and the UK’s Chief Medical Officer.  The penalty of blog editing, switching between on-screen windows. I’ll need to be more careful in future. A good and timely reminder.

Funnily, the topic of a minimum price for alcohol seems to be a hot topic, certainly in Scotland, with concerns about the effect of minimum pricing would have on its whisky industry.

Just a couple of points. Just because the CEBR report is funded by a drinks company doesn’t in itself nullify the value of the report, though will obviously colour opinion on its value. The report becomes part of the debate. My view remains the same. Setting a minimum price penalises the majority for the sins of the minority. I think a combination of a selective tax policy, education, using creativity to expand the means of social engagement for vulnerable sectors, such as the young, and investment in alcohol and drug dependency centres, would be the route I’d choose.  

The use, or misuse, of alcohol is a big issue – no pun intended.

I’m amused: Hatip to Burning Our Money

Budgens in Lightwater changed its name today to Duffy’s Budgens.

Fortuitous, that’s the only word for it. I was in Lightwater village centre this afternoon.  A car stopped and asked me where was Budgens superstore. That’ll surprise anyone who knows Lightwater, as it’s slap bang in the middle of the village, with a big sign above the entrance. As I spoke to the passenger and pointed to the store location, not much more than 100 yards away, I looked over towards the store and noticed that only the word Duffy’s was visible in the new sign. The passenger had seen the word Duffy’s, but there was nothing else. What’s the odds on that. One of the quirks of life.

I couldn’t miss out on this opportunity, I popped into the store, and as I expected there was Mike Duffy by the entrance. A wide grin creased his face, combined with justified pride in showing the world the Duffy family ownership. Mike’s also has a new six-page leaflet, including a letter from Mike about being a family owned grocer. Here’s the front page, with Mike and Jane.

I’ll post more on this development, and what it means for Lightwater. Suffice to say, it demonstrates investment in, and commitment to Lightwater.