Leaving Afghanistan

[Frederick]

The last British soldier has left I read this morning ..

I can not help thinking how different things may have been if every MP on entering the House of Commons was given a copy of this and told to learn it off by heart.

A GREAT and glorious thing it is

To learn, for seven years or so,

The Lord knows what of that and this,

Ere reckoned fit to face the foe -

The flying bullet down the Pass,

That whistles clear: "All flesh is grass."

Three hundred pounds per annum spent

On making brain and body meeter

For all the murderous intent

Comprised in "villainous saltpetre".

And after?- Ask the Yusufzaies

What comes of all our 'ologies.

A scrimmage in a Border Station-

A canter down some dark defile

Two thousand pounds of education

Drops to a ten-rupee jezail.

The Crammer's boast, the Squadron's pride,

Shot like a rabbit in a ride!

No proposition Euclid wrote

No formulae the text-books know,

Will turn the bullet from your coat,

Or ward the tulwar's downward blow.

Strike hard who cares - shoot straight who can

The odds are on the cheaper man.

One sword-knot stolen from the camp

Will pay for all the school expenses

Of any Kurrum Valley scamp

Who knows no word of moods and tenses,

But, being blessed with perfect sight,

Picks off our messmates left and right.

With home-bred hordes the hillsides teem.

The troopships bring us one by one,

At vast expense of time and steam,

To slay Afridis where they run.

The "captives of our bow and spear"

Are cheap, alas! as we are dear.

[richard51]

And I wonder if it will be quoted some time around the turn of the next century.

[vette]

It might be better if MP's had to serve in the Military first, or at least had work experience in a proper occupation.

I'm glad our troops are out of there.

[Hoddy]

There's no future for MPs who do that.

My MP attended the local comprehensive, did well, got a degree, joined the army for a while and then came out and set up a successful private company.

Does he get promoted ? No, of course not.

[cardi]

Blair gained nothing for us by dragging us into another of America's wars. 2 million on the streets and he didn't give a stuff.

He did all right for himself though.

Strangely, even though the Taliban had virtually destroyed opium production in Afghanistan the country is now back in top place as the main US and European heroin producer.

Business is business.