Mr Brown paid tribute to the work of the British forces who, he acknowledged, are working in a difficult environment and making many sacrifices. "You are doing an essential job," he said "ensuring the people of Afghanistan no longer have to live under the brutal Taleban regime." Mr Brown was also briefed by senior officers at Camp Bastion, who told him that despite many critical media reports, equipment was performing and troops on the ground had everything they needed.
See, he needn't have gone - I wasn't there and managed to write this story.
