Some of parts of our inner City’s look a bit like some buildings over there, from what I have seen.

We probably have enough Afghan refugee’s here already to train, without going abroad.

Seems we also have some who want to be in the Taliban, if Press reports are to be believed.

So we perhaps could set up our own training for conflict here without even going abroad.

As does temperature 0- 50 degrees night – Day.

Reason altitude plays a part I am told is “thinner air” you need helicopters with more powerful engines to take off with maximum load than you do at lower altitudes.

It adds – “Chinooks are under licensed production by Agusta of Italy and Kawasaki in Japan. ” which begs the question as to why we could not build our own under licence as well, and why we did not think to done this years ago when our need ought to have become apparent.

The RAF have 48, of which 8 are non-operational at the moment . So we have less than one tenth of the Chinoocks of the US Army. Is the US Army ten times the siz (ie 1 million srtrong) of ours? I think not.

Wikipedia points out – “Boeing has delivered 48 F-model helicopters to the United States Army; on August 26, 2008, Boeing announced that the Army has signed a five year contract, worth over $4.8 billion for 191 more, plus 24 options” – so the USA are still buying Chinooks for all they are worth.

Its interesting that the US Army names it helicopters after Red Indians (sorry Native Americans) – the wide ranging, raiding, quick movement of the red indian tribes clearly has a resonance lacking with Gordon Brown.

When one looks at the herculean tasks performed by RAF Chinooks on a regular basis it beggars belief that we do not have double the force.

Brown’s the equivalent of a pre-recorded android – Blair’s responsible for invading Iraq & Afghanistan under tenuous, implausible ‘reasons’.

The party line, amid the usual media spin and manipulation, appears to be withdrawal from Afghanistan – reportedly unwinnable, shifting responsibility in the process to save face. You know, usual lack of honesty and transparency and hidden agendas ………..

It may well, of course, suit Bliar’s ‘Presidential’ aims to wipe the Afghanistan slate clean – always been totally ‘self serving’ at taxpayers expense.

Yes I am as frustrated as you are with many Government ideals, and manipulation of statistics to suit their own ends, but just trying to lighten the mood a little on a serious subject.

Unfortunately most political party’s will manipulate figures to suit, Labour are not alone.

Suggest for detailed information on the helicopter situation, you look under Douglas Carswells blog of yesterday, where a fellow blogger gives a very detailed account of the situation, using the defence departments own published statistics.

Mr Brown of course seems to have it wrong again, hence his reason for not answering any questions

Is she saying the invasion is improving local amenities ? An insult to those who’ve given their lives fighting for Queen and country – whose shameless government is closing hospital departments and undermining education.