Yes, remember the past - but let’s not forget the present

After paying my own respects to the thousands of British men and women who have laid down their lives for this country, I came to home to read two very sad pieces of news.

Today, on Remembrance Sunday, two more of our boys have been killed in that most aimless of wars in Afghanistan. And a survey has revealed that four fifths of children in Scotland do not know that the Dunkirk evacuation was part of the Second World War.

I’m not sure which one depressed me more.

How can we ask our children to wear their poppies and respect a minutes silence, when they have no idea what they are doing these things for?

More, importantly how can we ask our soldiers to keep fighting, and dying, in Afghanistan when they have no idea what they are fighting for? I’ve read countless reports of soldiers who claim to be confused about their mission. More worryingly, most UK soldiers believe the war to be unwinnable. And they should know.

This is now reflected in public opinion here in the UK. Most of us want the soldiers back, most of us don’t know why we are there, most of us don’t think it is worth it.

At the moment, I do not agree with public opinion. But there’s only so long I can keep positive about this war.

I do think bringing stability and democracy to Afghanistan is worth it. Yes, even worth losing British lives for. But am I convinced that our current campaign will work? Sadly, I am not.

When I read today about those two soldiers, from 4th Battalion The Rifles and 2nd Battalion The Rifles, I couldn’t help thinking they had died in vain.

I could quite easily explain to a child why it is important we wear our poppies with pride. Why it is important to remember the fallen. I could easily explain why men and women died in the Somme or at Passchendaele, and the subsequent good that has come from their sacrifice. But Helmand? Kabul? Sadly, that’s more difficult.

I hope I am wrong. But, like everyone else, I am going to take some convincing. We need a clear strategy and we need some reasons for optimism. At the moment, the MoD is clutching at straws.

And that is not good enough when our countrymen are dying.

@2 years ago