THIS month saw the end of 60 long expensive years. Yes, that's how long we have been paying America in order to clear off the debt we incurred from them at the end of the Second World War.

Then we were skint, broke. We had given our all, as they say, in order to save not only Europe but the world from Fascism.

But America thought 'Hey, folks, the war's over, we have done our bit,' and so they held us to ransom and it's taken us all this time for us to free ourselves.

We must be careful with 'the special relationship' and take care not to be led into another futile war with Iran.

Perhaps we should only fight, risk lives, when Britain is in danger.

Trying to police the world is a somewhat futile job.

Take this absolute fiasco in Iraq: we turfed out Saddam, the Iraqi army and its police force without first considering how we were going to replace them.

Now four years on, many lives have been lost and we are no nearer.

And to add to this folly we are committing more men to that other vain and useless war' in Afghanistan.

Oh sorry, I forgot it's not a war, the lads are only there peace keeping'.

It's just a little unfortunate for us that the Taliban don't look at it the same way - that's why they keep shooting at us.

We are at full stretch, and I'm beginning to feel a little vulnerable.

Our soldiers are without proper gear, the territorials are being used as a matter of course and severe cuts are affecting the navy.

Is this good husbandry? We need a strong government with a strong leader, and soon.