SHORTLY after Harold MacMillan became Prime Minister a reporter asked him: "What is the worst mistake a Prime Minister can make?" After pausing a minute MacMillan replied: "Going to war in Afghanistan."

He knew his history, a subject which was once taught a lot in our schools. He had probably seen a copy of the famous picture depicting the last stand of an English Regiment in the Kyber Pass. Out of an army of 16,000 only one man, a medical officer, riding an injured pony reached safety through it. Today there are 130,000 occupying troops more than that number, brought in as security guards in a country where it would be madness for a foreigner to travel or go out without protection.

The last British Ambassador in Kabul, Sherard Cowper-Coles, has written a fascinating first-hand account of his experiences. He was guarded night and day by a team of eight Royal Military Police. In one incident when attending a great military parade he had to run for his life as Taliban fighters opened fire. His Sergeant Major gallantly interposed his body to shield him from the bullets.

President Karzai is confined to his palace and its grounds with thousands of men detailed to protect him. The Americans are recruiting and training Afghan security forces but last year alone 1,500 policemen were killed and passing out parades are thinly attended on account of desertions. Long ago my friend and colleague Ken Young was posted to India before it gained independence. He rose from trooper to major largely on account of his mastering the languages and customs of the NW Frontier. He found the Pathans good soldiers but said he was forever receiving leave applications on account of "family business". This was a euphemism for trying to kill someone in a blood feud. Leave was never refused.

Desperately poor, living in a society which is corrupt at every level under a president originally brought forward by the Americans and owing to a fraudulent election ordinary Afghans must gain a living best way they can.

The Taliban, or Brotherhood, are simply strict Muslims who want to impose Islamic, or Sharia Law. When I had to live with this while teaching in a Madrassa in Saudi Arabia I used to pass three licensed beggars sitting beside the road. All had suffered the amputation of their right hands for repeated thefts. I always emptied my pockets into their bowl. It is now reckoned we have 140 Islamic schools in this country and around two and a half million Muslims, most of whom are good and decent citizens.

But many also have strong roots in Pakistan where there is much support for the Taliban. The former head of M15 Lady Mannigham-Buller following our invasion of Iraq and the later extension to Afghanistan, said our security services had to be increased threefold with branches now set up in six provincial centres in the UK to liaise more closely with the police. For protecting the Olympic Games and their 50 training centres there will be 20,000 security personnel including troops, ground to air missiles and a few drones overhead. For the Queen's Diamond Jubilee I am wondering if the first vessel in the 60 boat convoy scheduled to escort her up the Thames will be a minesweeper!

It is clear that the Taliban were organised by Pakistan's military intelligence and supported by the Americans who first installed them as the Government to end the anarchy prevailing after the Russians withdrew. They then threw them out by arming and directing the warlords running the heroin business who are now rich ministers in Kabul. When recently a large US helicopter packed with troops was shot down in a night raid on a remote compound the Pentagon defended itself by claiming that 6,000 similar raids had occurred without such a difficulty. They are still losing and they and we are only still there because they wish to withdraw so as not to upset the weak US President's re-election chances.

Among the fascinating revelations I have discovered is a survey by our ambassador which showed that 21.6 per cent of flights were used by British helicopters used to ferry British VIPs, mostly MPs keen on being photographed alongside our gallant troops no doubt to put on their election leaflets. The gallant troops having been told they are essential to their country's security and sent out on foot patrols for want of helicopters, praying that their next step will not be their last.

Looking at the cost of this insane war and the millions spent by our Government in compensating the Afghans for crops, livestock, buildings and above all innocent civilians damaged and killed is an item of 300 dogs that presumably challenged our special forces creeping up in the dark. Politicians might at times fool us but our expendable soldiers can't fool a loyal dog. Making ourselves hated is not improving our security. We should get our troops home not when the Americans tell us but right now. This is not our war.

Roger Horsfield

Bream