On spending priorities

There shouldn't be much doubt left as to whether the Cons were really pushing ahead with further combat in Afghanistan for the sake of assisting reconstruction, or solely in order to appease Bushco. But to put any such doubt to rest, the CP reports that while combat has done nothing but expand since the Cons took power, money earmarked for reconstruction in Afghanistan isn't actually being spent.

Needless to say, the contrast is rather stark against the Cons' plan to ram through sole-source defence spending which won't be of any benefit in Afghanistan. And the only available conclusion is that reconstruction in Afghanistan is merely an excuse to go on pouring money and troops into the country and into the military generally - not a goal which the Cons are remotely serious about pursuing.