Yes, of course.

Where is the choice for "who cares, he'll just be replaced with someone equally odious"?

Can we get back to the point? Rather than John Mcdonnel this, you're a loony left moron this, i hate you this. To be honest people probably buy the paper more if it has an interview with a person recently illiegally held, then they kick up a fuss about it. It's like when the Daily Mail, 'The party of the swing voters', complain about gratuitous sex and violence in a show, and viewers ratings shoot up 50%. People pretend they're appaled, but are secretly fascinated by it.

Let's just get a sense of proportion on this one.

Yes, it was a mistake for Des Browne to agree to the stories being published in this way. But the way it's dominated the news for the last week or more is ridiculous, and says everything about the media and the Tories, and little about the merits of the issue.

Particular marks for hypocrisy go to the papers who have condemned the decision - how many of them would have taken a different view if they had successfully bid for the rights to various stories?

And the major prize for hyperbole in all of this goes to Liam Fox, who managed to draw a parallel with Lord Carrington and two others resigning over the Argentinian invastion of the Falklands, arguing that 'they had done nothing wrong but they took responsibility because it was on their watch'. Well, not quite that simple - indeed there were strong arguments at the time that weak and mixed messages being given out by the Conservative government with regard to their commitment to resist Argentinian claims over the Falklands.

The important issues that need to be restated are a) the illegal nature of the action taken by the Iranians, b) the specific military decisions that were taken which made the seizure of these sailors and marines possible, and c) the advise and training offered to military personnel about coping in this kind of situation in the future.

I'm no fan of Des Browne, and was rather suprised that he brought into the Cabinet in the 1st place as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.  Secondly his promotion to Defence Secretary was simply amazing, but frankly Blair's last reshuffle was his worst and one i'm sure he will lives to regret to this very day.

But Des Browne did come to the House of Commons today and apologise and acted in a humble manner, which is more than can be said for many Labour Ministers and fromer Tory Ministers.  It's also interesting to note that a Newsnight poll this evening showed that 60% of people believe that Browne should not resign.  Should the Government really give a scalp to Cameron before the Local Elections?  Should the Government really give a scalp to the Daily Mail?  (Remember much of the Daily Mail's anti-Browne/MOD/Navy coverage in recent days has been down to sour grapes because it lost out in the bidding war with the Sun.  One wonders what would have happened if the Daily Mail had got the story).

I think most of us accept that Browne has been over-promoted, but has he been that bad a defence secretary?  Let's be honest no defence secretary regardless of what the Tories say will command the respect of combat troops etc.  But Browne has won the support/respect of senior officals at the MOD and the senior military ditto he has implemented some steady improvements.  Given that Gordon Brown is reluctant to spend billions extra on defence, Browne has done well in tricky circumstances.

No he shouldn't resign.

Would the tories be so angry if the interviews didn't happen to be so poorly managed?

Read between the lines, the tories are saying that not only did the government humiliate the country, they are more or less saying the troops did too.

They and their right wing newspaper bitches have been hinting at as much for a long time.

It's time we stopped fighting each other and started fighting a quite awful Tory attack campaign that is on so many fronts right now, it's sinking the whole party.

Hey J!

Are you not gonna comment on my first ever Blog entry??? I am disappointed! :-)