BRITAIN BANS BRITISH ARMY!

One of the contrasts between the USA and the UK is that the current UK Government seems embarrassed and distrusting of its Armed Forces. When in the States recently, I got the clear impression that the US Government, Media and people all seem pretty proud of its warrior class, and rightly so.

British officialdom's contempt for the British military is evident in the news that scores of soldiers flying home from Afghanistan on Christmas leave were ordered to change out of their uniforms on a freezing runway before being allowed into a civilian airport terminal.Troops were told not to be seen in public in their uniforms - which they had worn with pride while risking their lives during months of intense fighting against the Taliban. One soldier, who was ordered to undress for "security reasons", said:

"It is an insult to the entire Army to force guys who've been fighting in Afghanistan to obey some jobsworth rule when all they want to do is get home to their families. So much for a nation proud of its servicemen. The temperature was Baltic on the runway but most of just wanted to get home so we cracked on."

As ever, the British Armed Forces do us proud - Britains' national shame is that we have a Government which treats these brave men and women with something akin to loathing. Might the proximity of this Airport to Birminhgam, a city approaching a Muslim majority, have anything to do with this disgraceful decision?