The hindight of Des Browne

HINDSIGHT is a remarkable talent. We all have it when we make poor decisions. And one of the poorest, and I'm afraid to say about a Secretary of State of the Crown, the stupidest of decisions was to allow HMS Cornwall sailors to sell the stories of their misadventures in Iran.

I don't blame the personnel involved. It was down to the Ministry of Defence. And now Defence Secretary Des Browne has said that "clearly with hindsight, I could have made a different decision."

That decision arose because the MoD and the Royal Navy felt they had little choice but to allow the stories to be sold, given that the tales had to be put into the public domain "to counteract the propaganda the Irianians had put out" using the frigate's crew.

What was wrong with non-payment interviews, with an appropriate fee being given to military charities? But of course this is New Labour. Let's spin it all the way.

Later, Mr Browne soon realised he'd made the wrong choice and he now regarded it right that serving pmilitary personnel should be banned from selling their stories.

Liberal Democrat spokesman Chris Huhne called the fiasco "extraordinary" and Tory leader David Cameron said it had been a "dreadful decision."

Mr Browne is an unremarkable Defence Secretary. Few members of the public would be able to finger him in an identity parade. Perhaps that's just as well - let's hope the Iranians can't. The last thing we want is for him to be lifted, flown to Iran, released, and then have to read his version of events in The Sun after receiving a hefty cheque.