Newsnight 21/6/10

The number of UK service personnel killed as a result of the Afghanistan conflict since 2001 has hit 300, after a wounded marine died in hospital. The prime minister said it was a moment for the whole country to reflect on the sacrifices the armed forces make.

Diplomatic editor Mark Urban will be considering what we have achieved over nine years in Afghanistan and what our future strategy should be.

Presented by Jeremy Paxman.

Broadcast on:
BBC Two, 10:30pm Monday 21st June 2010
Duration:
50 minutes
Available until:
11:19pm Monday 28th June 2010

Newsnight 21st June 2010
The number of UK service personnel killed as a result of the Afghanistan conflict since 2001 has hit 300, after a wounded marine died in hospital. The prime minister said it was a moment for the whole country to reflect on the sacrifices the armed forces make.

Diplomatic editor Mark Urban will be considering what we have achieved over nine years in Afghanistan and what our future strategy should be.

Presented by Jeremy Paxman.
Broadcast on:
BBC Two, 10:30pm Monday 21st June 2010
Duration:
50 minutes
Available until:
11:19pm Monday 28th June 2010

Paxman: What are these lives being lost for?...
Cameron: It’s all under review…
Grizzly milestones, coming with increasing frequency…
Armed Forces Day, outside City Hall, London
First 5 years, 5 people killed.
The decision to go to Helmand Province in 2006 stirred the hornet’s nest.
10,000 UK troops in Helmand
Nato has 30,000, mostly US.
Security by increased force – the new strategy.
Sangin.
BBC visited earlier in the year.
Afghans critical of their presence.
Say they’ve increased security and stability.
But an increase in IEDs…
Liam Fox – Defence Secretary
The decision NOT to give Sangin to US, ratified by the new government – a matter of pride.
British Government still committed, with Obama.
Nick Harvey – Armed Forces Minister
Questioned by Paxman: Why do we have to ask ourselves everyday why we’re there (Cameron), when PM said seemingly otherwise?
Rory Stewart, Conservative MP
How long are we going to be there for?
6 months into an 18 month programme – so at least a year.
Paxman pointing out that the decision to stay is not in British hands, rather as dictated by Obama.
Paxman trying to galvanise acknowledgement of achievements so far in Afghanistan: education, a new government more free from corruption
Stewart proposes a ‘like for like’, solution opposed to clear cut increase in troops or decrease….
On the Emergency Budget tomorrow:
Unprecedented…
Youngest Chancellor for over a century…
Has to fill in the gap made by the biggest hole in history…
Has to please markets, whilst making it fair.
Quite a circle to square!
Paul Mason
Governments are defined by economic gambits.
A risk of a double-dip recession…
Both parties of the coalitions favoured tax cuts.
Osbourne signalled cancelling the Benefits Bill…
Welfare Reform…
Osbourne wants to make his mark with micro-measures.
Every choice is guided by a theory: Private investment speeds up Public. A theory untested.
Guests on the show…
Rev Dr Malcolm Brown ‘ people with the broadest shoulders should bear the most burden’
Phillip Blond, ResPublica think tank
John Mann, Labour MP ‘against the removal of universal benefits’
A philosophical debate bout the role of the state.
Blond disagress with Mann: saying people at the top should get less, people at the bottom get more…
Social unrest, a result of tinkering with the system?...
Mann is being dismissed for his accusations that the poor will be profoundly affected for the worse, a prelude to the NHS’s dismantling by the Right.

Summer Solstice?...
Don’t put the clocks back…
Say it’s saving the environment…
Result in fewer car crashes…
1968-71 – it was tried…
Celebrated by druids and warlocks?...
Tim Yeo, Conservative MP…
Alyn Smith MEP, SNP – saying the SNP are agnostic…
Darker mornings are more dangerous, particularly children going to school.
There is a pressing argument for KEEPING the clocks, opposed to changing them…
Paxman says that you need to experiment…
Smith saying that is has been done before.
Tim Yeo’s arguments are more convincing…
Smith is ‘taking issue’with a lot of things, and is far more cautious.
Jon Venables – Jamie Bulger
Dr Daniel, killed someone in Cambridgeshire, still allowed to practice in Germany.
Times Square (would-be) bomber convicted, admitted to possessing weapons of mass destruction.
French Manager’s beleaguered football team. French players going on strike – embarrassing the country. Acting like spoiled brats (according to guest).
Papers:
Amusing, Paxman’s lack of interest in Wimbledon

Michael Crick anticipating budget tomorrow:
There’s a keenness for ‘fairness’ to be portrayed.
So many statements are going to be inoperative.
Likely to be unpalatable cuts.
Dissent surprisingly on the Right.
Lord Forsyth critical on bank levies.
Reference to the Four Horses of the Apocalypse.