Real Afghan war is now beginning

thebusiness: The bloodiest wars often start with the least political fanfare. The Crimean war was agreed in a Cabinet meeting while three members were asleep. And last week, just 13 Labour MPs listened to the Commons statement about Afghanistan.

The voice of John Reid, the Defence Secretary, echoed to the lack of listeners in the chamber as he announced the 1 billion pound deployment of 6,000 troops. The contrast to the hubris before the Iraq war could hardly be starker. Yet the Afghanistan mission could - for British troops - bring a higher death toll than Iraq. The risks are higher, the stakes lower and the goals would be considered laughable if so many lives were not at stake. Read more