This week, Wycombe MP Steve Baker writes exclusively to Bucks Free Press readers about the Afghanistan conflict:

The appalling situation in Afghanistan will come home hard to many people in Wycombe who may have served in the armed forces as my wife and I did, who may have lost family and friends there, who may have connections to the wider region, and to people of goodwill across our community.

We should not underestimate the scale of this foreign policy disaster.

Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, Afghanistan was invaded. I was then working in the software industry but my wife was deployed to Bagram in due course, returning safely. Various friends served there.

We can be under no illusion about the enormous sacrifice made by our armed forces who, complying with lawful orders, sought with courage and virtue to do good not only for people at home but for the people of Afghanistan too.

Undoubtedly some good has come from 20 years of sacrifice – the elevation of the rights of women shows that all was not in vain – but overall, this is an historic failure which will lead to immense soul searching.

I regret my isolation with Covid prevented me attending the debate in the Commons on Wednesday. I would have spoken about the need to learn and apply the lessons of Iraq.

These were distilled into a guide for officials titled “The Good Operation”, which may be found online.

I believe firmly in a strong defence. I would not hesitate to authorise the use of force to defend our people and country.

However, I am today as I have always been extremely sceptical of the capacity of armed force to do good in the exceptionally complex circumstances of other people’s countries, culture and history.

Decisions on the use of armed force are always the most difficult for our political leaders.

The present crisis makes that more plain to everyone.