KUWAIT: Britain's Defence Secretary, Mr Geoff Hoon, visited British troops in the Kuwaiti desert yesterday on a trip designed to boost morale but which left soldiers wishing they'd met Kylie Minogue rather than the grey-suited politician.
Arriving in a hail of dust aboard a helicopter at the British base of Camp Gibraltar, the secretary of state was visiting marines from the 3rd commando brigade, on his first stop on a tour of the Gulf - which also signalled the start of a government push to prepare a sceptical British public for war. But judging by the reaction of the troops who will be in the front line of any British military action in Iraq, the Defence Secretary will have his work cut out.
Sgt Steff Moran, standing beside the row of weapons and artillery pieces for inspection by the Minister, said: "We want to be assured that politicians will get the British public behind us. But all he did was ask me about the weather."
"It was nice enough to see him," said Marine Malcolm Perrett from Devizes, Wiltshire.
"But unless he's going to tell us when we're going to war I'd rather meet someone who's going to pep me up. Give me Kylie Minogue any day."
The lukewarm reaction to Mr Hoon, referred to by troops as the "Big GH", is an indication of the mood in the mess halls that while they may be at battle readiness, the politicians are not.
Mr Hoon's visit to the marines was the first official recognition that British forces are based in Kuwait. They were previously referred to only as being in the "Gulf region".
"We're here to do a job," said Marine Marty Allison, "and it's about time people back home know that we're here and that we're fighting to protect them from that madman Saddam Hussein." Until yesterday's visit there was a six-week media blackout following the arrival of the first British troops, who now number more than 8,000.
Alluding to the difficulty of the task and to recent anti-war demonstrations, Mr Hoon said: "For some, conflict of any sort will never be excusable. I have respect for those who hold such firm moral positions, but I believe history has proved them comprehensively wrong."
To Saddam Hussein, the following stark ultimatum was issued:
"You cannot win, you can only comply and disarm or be defeated - the choice is yours."
Mr Hoon's visit has not been without controversy, following his decision last week to go on a ski-ing holiday while British forces were deployed for possible war against Iraq.
He explained. "As far as the fact that I took a short break with my family is concerned during a half-term holiday, I can only say to you in response to that that I worked all day Sunday and travelled here overnight in order to have the privilege of answering your questions."
A marine at Camp Gibraltar, who has spent four weeks living under canvas in Kuwait, said: "I wish I'd had the time or money to take a holiday with my family."