Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced that the Government's Afghan strategy was working. "I met with Alistair Darling and David Miliband recently. we were concerned about the budget defecit. We needed to cut public expenditure. And then I had a brilliant idea. we could cut the cost of the armed services by sending troops into Afghanistan without the proper equipment. Over a 24 hour period we would make substantial savings I could go on television and appear all statesmanlike, which would be an added bonus."
The controversial plan got the backing of the whole cabinet once it was announced that Patricia Hewitt was in line to take over if they did not give their full support.
General Sir Harry Pilling, Chief of Staff, said "Once again the military are being used as political pawns by a government intent on saving itself."
