I have no time for the man or his master, but IIRC he actually said the forces would
probably be happy to leave without firing a shot, or words to that effect. I agreed with him at the time, I'm sure the guys would much rather not be put in a situation where they had to fight for their lives (I know I would be). Perhaps he was rather more aware of the s%*t he was putting our guys into, but chose to ignore the advice being given to him (fingers in ears humming 'for auld lang syne'). Rissole
