Peter Rhodes on 'safe' Ukraine, deadly Afghanistan and a sermon about fences

I'm reminded of 2006 when a previous defence secretary, John Reid, said British troops being sent to Afghanistan would be “perfectly happy to leave again in three years' time without firing one shot.” The Taliban and al Qaeda had other ideas, By 2021, a total of 457 British armed forces personnel had died in Afghanistan. From Londonderry to Kyiv via Kabul, peace-keeping first requires peace.

Learner drivers are to be tested on their knowledge of resuscitation and defibrillators, on the grounds that motorists are often first on the scene after someone has a cardiac arrest. Maybe so. But the theory section of the driving test is already hugely demanding and this will make it much tougher. 

One might suspect the real aim is to stop people passing the test. Fewer cars means fewer accidents, fewer pot holes and more people forced on to public transport. Cynical, me?

Donald Trump says Ukraine's President Zelensky could "end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to.” Quite right, too. And all it would take is that essential battlefield accessory, a white flag.

Seriously, though. Has one of The Donald's many aides ever taken him quietly on one side and told him about the spirit of the Alamo?

Thought for the Day (Radio 4) is in hot water after one contributor, theologian Krish Kandiah , accused Shadow Lord Chancellor Robert Jenrick of making xenophobic statements about asylum seekers. The Beeb has apologised and edited the internet version. 

But Kandiah was merely voicing the widely-held liberal belief that the only ethical response to a boatload of military-age strangers crossing your borders is to throw open the gates, embrace them and let them in. However, the Bible sometimes takes a more robust view. 

In the Book of Samuel, for instance, there's an account of David's men acting as guards to keep strangers out: “They were a wall unto us both by night and by day.” The Almighty seems to have no ethical problem with protecting what's yours.

So any chance of the Beeb giving us a Thought for the Day on the theme of “Good fences make good neighbours”? Thought not.