Donald Trump should have listened to Australian songwriter Fred Smith before he spoke ignorantly about the sacrifices of soldiers in Afghanistan.

Last week, Trump criticised NATO and in so doing said the non-US soldiers stayed “a little off the front lines” in ­Afghanistan. He offered no evidence, provided no support for his comment, just let it emerge into the light as a truth only he knew. It wasn’t the truth, and in the ensuing days, the leaders of the countries that fought in Afghanistan let it be known it wasn’t.

The British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called it “insulting and ­appalling.” As did other NATO leaders. In a mark from the norm the British Royal Family entered the fray. Prince Harry, who served two tours in Afghanistan, said: “Thousands of lives were changed forever. Mothers and fathers buried sons and daughters. Children were left without a parent. Families are left carrying the cost. Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect.”

Even Sir Rod Stewart came out in condemnation. He posted, “I may just be a humble rock star, I’m also a knight of the realm, and I have........

© Pearls and Irritations