Today has been a quite dreary November day. Over-night, temperatures were low and there was frost in the air. The low temperatures and the very soggy air made mists form in the early hours and, undispersed in the still air, hung clinging to the landscape. In the half- light of morning a lone transport aircraft was seen approaching RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire. Inside were more dead men, the latest victims of a possibly futile war.
Today, the small town of Wootton Bassett stopped again to honour the latest to die in the conflict in Afghanistan. On a dismal, grey day, driving slowly along the main street of this dignified, small town, came seven hearses carrying seven Union flags draped across seven coffins containing the bodies of seven brave young men, the latest to have paid the ultimate price while fighting a war that exacts an increasing toll. Today's repatriation was particularly tragic. This time five of the dead soldiers had been killed by a man described as a "rogue" recruit who was being trained by the British forces to be an effective member of the Afghanistan police force. Afghanistan is now a country where every man can be our enemy.
The cortege had only a narrow passageway available as it made its way slowly along the High Street. Crowds were standing ten deep, drawn from all over England and Wales, military flags held by many an ex-serviceman held low in honour of the dead and the town mourned. Flowers were placed on the hearses as they passed the solemn rows and the rain fell. A wreath of poppies lay on the roof of the leading vehicle.
The Prime Minister has already written his letters of condolence to the families of these dead men. Today, he will have to sit down again and try to find words to write two more letters to the families of those men who have died today and, no matter how he feels about the future prosecution of this war, he will find his task difficult.
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