The Brits are preparing public opinion for British troops to go in for a long time, no doubt with casualites inevitable. By contrast the perception is that the US administration may not have prepared public opinion for anything more than hit and run raids. Meanwhile the present US strategy is seen as running out of options.
There was some humour that the Pentagon ?? had announced a competition for whoever could come up with the most creative solution to pursuing the war in Afghanistan - closure date 23rd December - surely a hoax??? but Newsnight thought it could be one of a piece with US confusion.
The series of reports also were explicit about how even Oman does not want to be publically seen as the launching pad for invading troops. It also deepened its reporting on the demographic, political, and economic changes that make the Saudi regime unstable, and had Prof Fred Halliday contributing (former left wing writer).
The brits seem ready to send in a highly specialised unit of 600 men trained in fighting in arctic conditions, assuming that they will be supported by heat detecting aircraft information systems.
The implication tonight was that they are holding back for a lead from the USA about how this war is going to be won.
If at all???
Chris Burford
London