AFTER nearly twenty years, British and American military involvement in Afghanistan is finally at an end. But why was our military ever sent there in the first place?

Military intervention began on the pretext that the Taliban government in Afghanistan harboured the terrorists responsible for the attacks of 11 September 2001, but the facts do not back this up. Of the attackers, 15 were citizens of Saudi Arabia, two were from the United Arab Emirates, one was from Lebanon and one was from Egypt.

Osama Bin Laden boasted of his involvement, but there is no solid evidence linking him to the attacks. We loathe and despise the Taliban with good reason, but evidence that they were in any way responsible for the 9/11 atrocities is flimsy.

Two decades on, and the Taliban are back in control of Afghanistan, far more quickly than so-called ‘experts’ predicted as recently as a few weeks ago.

So what are we to make of it all? And on what terms should Britain, America and her allies engage with the Taliban in the future? 
Marcus Stead and Greg Lance-Watkins try to make sense of a highly complex situation.

The podcast is available on the Talk Podcasts website, iTunes, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, SoundCloud, Spotify and the TuneIn app.

Twenty Minute Topic Episode 61: Afghanistan - What's It All About?

On 27 January 2002, Corporal Michael Phillips was killed in Sierra Leone. He had just returned there after a brief visit home before Christmas on paternity leave. Daughter Hollie was born early December.
From the moment, when his wife Julie received that dreaded knock at the door, she knew the truth did not add up.
A truth of lies.
Finally, nearly nine years later, the Ministry of Defence admitted negligence.
It has been two decades since Michael’s death. Hollie is now an adult.
For the first time, his widow Julie Phillips goes on the record in conversation with renowned ghostwriter Tony Horne to unravel that Truth of Lies...
The podcast series is available on the Talk Podcasts website, iTunes, Google Podcasts, SoundCloud, Spotify and the iTunes app.

Truth of Lies Preview

It is 0630, 28 January 2002. There is a knock on the door. Michael is dead.
The podcast series is available on the Talk Podcasts website, iTunes, Google Podcasts, SoundCloud, Spotify and the iTunes app.

Truth of Lies Episode 1

December 2001. Michael has been home on leave. It is the only time he will see his newborn daughter Hollie.
The podcast series is available on the Talk Podcasts website, iTunes, Google Podcasts, SoundCloud, Spotify and the iTunes app.

Truth of Lies Episode 2

Days later, Michael’s body is returned to the UK. His widow Julie is lied to about which airbase he is coming into. Then, as his body goes missing for four days, the lies begin to stack up.
Presented by Tony Horne.
The podcast series is available on the Talk Podcasts website, iTunes, Google Podcasts, SoundCloud, Spotify and the iTunes app.

Truth of Lies Episode 3

Michael is laid to rest. But unrest is laid bare.
The funeral is cancelled, then re-arranged. The guest list is vetted….A comedy of errors adds to the truth of lies...
Presented by Tony Horne.
The podcast series is available on the Talk Podcasts website, iTunes, Google Podcasts, SoundCloud, Spotify and the iTunes app.

Truth of Lies Episode 4

Just over one year on from Michael’s death, it is time for the inquest. Will Julie finally get any answers?

The podcast series is available on the Talk Podcasts website, iTunes, Google Podcasts, SoundCloud, Spotify and the iTunes app.

Truth of Lies Episode 5

Julie makes the trip to Sierra Leone to see where Michael was killed. Suddenly, and only now, do the Ministry of Defence begin to admit liability for Michael’s death...

Truth of Lies Episode 6

Blood Money

No amount of money - big or small - equates or compensates for Michael’s death.
Hear how the MOD admit negligence - but it is not quite 100%.

Truth of Lies Episode 7

Time To Reflect

Where is Julie and how is Hollie over two decades on from Michael’s death and how does she feel about the MOD and remembrance services?

Truth of Lies Episode 8

The Princess of Wales has revealed in a video message that in January, she underwent major abdominal surgery. While the surgery was successful, tests after the operation showed that cancer had been present, and she is now undergoing a course of preventative chemotherapy.

Kate’s announcement is yet another setback for the Royal Family, following the news last month that the King has a form of cancer, and the Duchess of York has revealed that she, too, is suffering from a form of skin cancer.

We send our best wishes to all three and will be remembering them in our prayers.

In this podcast, Marcus Stead and Greg Lance-Watkins discuss whether the recent difficulties could have been handled better by the Royal Family’s public relations team, and whether the clumsiness of it all played straight into the hands of vile trolls who have been spreading cruel and malicious rumours about the Princess of Wales.

The Mother’s Day photo that was pulled appears to be a collage of other photos blended together. The image of Catherine looks like one that appeared on the front of Vogue magazine some time ago.

The grainy video of Kate ‘out shopping’ with William that The Sun ran as an exclusive in the days before her announcement is certainly very odd. The woman in it looks to be no older than her late teens or early 20s, and her facial features are different to Kate’s. We also do not see a clear image of William to identify it as him. 

Good public relations is about clarity and controlling the story, and Kensington Palace have failed in those objectives.

The discussion moves on to wider themes – where is the line to be drawn between the public having ‘the right to know’ and respect for the privacy of the Royal Family? What can be done about online trolls, who can spread appalling rumours without consequence?

Prince Harry and Meghan have burnt their bridges with the Royal Family – if they had handled things differently in recent years, they could have held the fort while other senior members of the family receive treatment and recuperate in the months ahead. Their narcissistic behaviour means that is not possible.

The podcast is available on the Talk Podcasts website, iTunes, Google Podcasts, SoundCloud, Spotify and the iTunes app.

Twenty Minute Topic Episode 69: The Royal Family In Crisis

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Twenty Minute Topic Episode 61: Afghanistan - What's It All About?

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