John "Bomber" Hutton reflects on the need for tourists in Iraq

“I think Iraq is in a fundamentally better place,It is no longer a threat to its people or its neighbours,” that's John Hutton quoted in the Times today.

The US Air Force Link of December 18th tells us ..."In total, coalition aircraft flew 44 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom." .. the same number as the previous day but one more than on the 16th.

"But it’s not perfect, it won’t be for some time. It will be a while before there are tourists." adds Magdelen College scholar, John Hutton.

The Times quotes Kim "Rentagob" Howells, who was until recently the Foreign Office Minister responsible for Afghanistan, said that the country was “corrupt from top to bottom”. Mr Hutton concedes: “There is a lot of corruption in Afghanistan and it’s got to be tackled . . . "

The Air Force Link says a total of 56 close-air- support missions were flown in support of the ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols - it was 61 the day before and 67 on the 16th.

The Times says our new ( since Oct. 3rd) Defence Secretary thinks that he has the perfect job. He cannot stop talking about “our boys”, making it clear that they are heroes. He has donned the body armour in Afghanistan to see how heavy it is and he loves the ceremony as much as the boys’ toys.

"The public should prepare for a long haul." says Hutton.

..and the civilians of Iraq and Afghanistan get ready for a lot more sudden, searing, blinding, strafing, and bombing .... sudden death sent from the skies.

However his constituents in Barrow in Furness can rest assured in their jobs, as their MP has repeatedly argued not just for Trident not to be scrapped, but for more nuclear submarines to be built.

Ex flatmate of Alan "Basher" Milburn seems to have found his ideal role.