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Howard's Way.... a weekly column from the Rt. Hon. Michael Howard QC. MP. 

11 September 2008

There are some advantages (and one or two disadvantages) of foreign travel. It does, for example, mean that you miss the worst of the dreadful weather we have been suffering this summer. Or is the worst to come?

One thing travel always does is to provide a different perspective, not least on the world’s problems. And they are many and varied.

The most dramatic, and in many ways the most worrying, of the events to occur in the last few weeks has been the Russian invasion of Georgia. The paper-thin pretext advanced by Russia for its action will have convinced no objective observer.

The situation remains unresolved and there are fears that similar action may be taken against other neighbours of Russia. The response from the European Union, in particular, has been very disappointing and will have done nothing to deter the Russians from other adventures. It certainly makes for a more dangerous world.

But that is by no means the only potential flashpoint. There are real concerns about the future of Pakistan with a number of explosions causing many casualties. Is Pakistan able to take the action necessary to control its border with Afghanistan across which the Taliban and others seem able to cross so freely?

And what of Afghanistan itself? The casualties there continue to mount. I have always supported the objective of preventing the Taliban from regaining control and providing fresh bases for the terrorists of Al Qaeda. But in order to succeed we need an effective Afghan government in Kabul which can exert control over the rest of the country. We seem to be a long way from that at the moment.

In other parts of the world, strife continues. The terror in Darfur has slipped from the headlines but has not come to an end. And there is continuing bloodshed, too, in other parts of Africa.

And all this against a backdrop of economic difficulty which is a threat to all.

So I’m afraid the weather isn’t the only thing to be gloomy about. But it’s good to be back!