TRUTH TELLING

Posted at 8:45 a.m. ET

It's always refreshing when a public official tells the truth, the whole truth, unvarnished and unprotected by political correctness.

Britain's defense secretary, John Hutton, has spoken out about the nature of the Taliban, in Afghanistan.  What is remarkable is that the things he's saying are now considered in many Establishment circles here in the United States, especially as we're about to enter the Age of Obama.  Consider: 

Defence Secretary John Hutton has compared Taliban fighters in Afghanistan to the Nazis, saying British forces are defending Western values rather than borders as they did in the Second World War.

Mr Hutton said that the military campaign in Afghanistan was "a vital national security mission" just as the battle against Hitler was.

It's wonderful to have the air cleared.

"The argument is very clear. This is where our national security is determined. We must tackle the threat at source, it's not just going to go away," he told The Times this week. "It is a struggle against fanatics that may not challenge our borders but challenges our way of life in the same way the Nazis did."

I hope he doesn't try to say that in the precincts of an American university.  He'll be tagged 1) a racist, 2) Islamophobic, 3) a lackey of the United States, and 4) a neo-colonialist.

"We have to stay the course," he said. "The key thing now is not that the Taleban or al-Qaeda can defeat us in Afghanistan, their tactic is to outlast us. That's what we've got to deal with. That's the nature of this counter-insurgency operation. It doesn't lend itself to instantaneous results. This is a very complex, challenging environment for us to be operating in."

Truth telling, truth telling.

Finally, a great statement:

As to whether there is any likelihood of peace in a country with such a history of war, he said: "You've got to understand history but you can't be a prisoner of it. "We make history. History doesn't set precedents. You've got to be prepared to get involved when something is wrong."

I wonder how long this man will keep his job.  For years, I hope.

December 20, 2008.