Straw outlines vision for Afghanistan

The plight of Afghan refugees grows increasingly desperate

The Foreign Secretary Jack Straw looked to the future of Afghanistan today, warning that a diplomatic initiative under the leadership of the United Nations must be in place, if and when the Taleban regime falls.

Political logic calls for a short war; military logic may require an extended one, as recent noises from Washington have indicated. But increasingly, the big question is: What happens after the war?

We put these questions to Mr Straw. He told us it was imperative that, in trying to outline a future for Afghanistan, there should be a long-term commitment from the international community, that the UN should play a central role, and that any future government should be based on a broad-based alliance.

In the UK, backbench Labour MP Paul Marsden claims that Labour Chief Whip Hilary Armstrong openly criticised him for his anti-war stance. We ask if the government is attempting to stifle those dissenting voices, or is it every MP's duty to fall in line behind the government in times of war?

In a rare interview with the Labour Chief Whip's office, Anne McGuire denied that MPs were being disciplined for speaking out against the bombing.

Continuing the theme of government and democracy, we tried to get to the bottom of the mystery of the Cabinet office Minister, Lord MacDonald of Tradeston, his response in the Lords to a question on spin doctors, and the subsequent amendment in Hansard.

The shadow cabinet office minister Tim Collins says it is a clear case of Parliament being misled.

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