Strength boast proves weakness  

William Hague went to Afghanistan. A fortnight later so did David Cameron. On separate days they reported back to the House so that we backbench MPs could question them. Hague reported: ‘Optimism. Brave soldiers. Taliban on the run. More optimism. Afghan Army and Police getting ready. Shame about the casualties. But above all else optimism.' Cameron breezily reported: ‘Optimism. Brave soldiers. English footie team for the World Cup. Taliban on the run. More optimism. Afghan Army and Police getting ready. Shame about the casualties. But above all else optimism.' Neither said a word in their lengthy reports about the most significant events of their trips. Neither could complete their carefully planned itineries. They had to cancel their main destinations because of the strength of the Taliban threat. Trips designed to prove our strength, demonstrated our weakness. Only today...