David Cameron led tributes to the armed forces who "made our country great" at a ceremony to mark the transfer of repatriations of fallen troops to a new RAF base.

The Prime Minister said "we cannot thank them enough" for their efforts and the sacrifices they make. 

That may be true.  I have nothing but admiration for the professionalism of our armed forces, however misguided their actions are, at times.  But then, that is down to their commanding officers and the politicians.  

I often wonder though if your average soldier marching through Afghanistan ever considers, exactly, why he is there?  When you go onto armed forces message boards, there is plenty of bitching about their role, so why then does someone join up?  I don't know, because I have never been in the military although of course my forebears have fought in World wars.  At one time in my earlier years before I had the possibility of exploring what actually is going on in the world, I might have gone 100% for the king and country shite.

Should we be in foreign countries now that we have 'discovered' the rest of the world and everyone in these countries like India, Pakistan and Australia, actually know who and where they are.  Well apart from the Australians, of course.  I personally believe that our armed forces should be deployed to defend Britain, not sent to Afghanistan to build gas piplines.  Don't believe me?  Just Google, Afghanistan, oil and gas and you'll be on the road to discovering the truth!

IS CAMERON RIGHT TO TELL THE ARMED FORCES TO BACK OFF?

CAMERON TELLS THE ARMED FORCES, "UP YOURS"

David Cameron has laid bare his frustration with forces chiefs questioning the sustainability of Britain's military commitments, telling them: "You do the fighting and I'll do the talking." The Prime Minister was forced to insist that the mission in Libya can be maintained for as long as necessary after the concerns of the RAF's second-in-command were leaked. 

But is Cameron right?  I don't believe so.  It is surely he duty of commanders to question the viability of operations particularly if their men are stretched by lack of numbers or vital supplies?  I hope we have got over the days of the 1st World War when troops were seen as cannon fodder whose lives didn't matter a damn. 

Ultimately, although it's never happened in this country, the Armed Forces loyalty should be to the people, not the politicians or for that matter, the Royal family.  It always surprises me, although it shouldn't, the way armed personnel have this huge commitment to the Royal family.  I remember being in the Scouts when I was but a slip of a lad and the same thing was rammed into us then, so perhaps it's not surprising.  I come from a family where my father used to stand up for 'God Save the Queen', when it used to come on at the end of programming on TV for the night! 

It is sad though that the Armed Forces don't seem to be able to think for themselves.  Perhaps this is the start of them doing it.  I hope so, because failed politicians like Brown and Blair are lauded with riches, instead of being put where they should be, in jail.  If politicians were held accountable for their decisions and particularly, sending troops into conflicts where we have no right to be, then perhaps they would be of a higher calibre.