In 2017 I interviewed a soldier who took part in the SAS night raids in Afghanistan. In 2024 I gave evidence to the public inquiry into allegations of Extra Judicial Killings. While I believe those EJKs took place it is essential to understand the strategic context. My book Blades asks the fundamental question ‘what would you have done?’ Because at the time UK govt support for Counter Terrorism operations was non-existent. The human rights of the Taliban were prioritised over the lives of British soldiers. SAS soldiers faced an impossible dilemma. The bombmakers and facilitators operated outside UK ROE and were recycled back onto the battlefield within 96hrs of capture. Yet the IED networks represented the enemy’s most potent threat. Many hundreds of British soldiers and Afghan civilians were being blown up. I am proud that my newspaper the Mail has had the courage to set out these arguments. This is bold journalism. The SAS are not a rogue unit and its soldiers acted rationally and professionally in impossible circumstances. I will debate those points with anyone, anywhere. mol.im/a/16197881

Who remembers Pedro?

Eek…

Govt without a plan becomes a series of speeches and announcements without follow through. It's not just Starmer's No 10 that has been too focused on media grid and focus group government, campaigning rather than governing, but people's patience has now worn thin #BadGovernment