These boots are made for ....

One of these feet belongs to my elder son (ES); he's currently training to return to deployment in Afghanistan later in the year. He's been in the army five years all bar one month and I remember with pride the speech at his pass-out parade when the CO spoke of the moral courage the young soldiers displayed joining up at a time of so much active service. He's been lucky; only one of his pals from basic training has made the ultimate sacrifice. They keep going; fighting the politicians battles whether they believe them or not.
I feel some conflict then, knowing I am fighting against politicians as I prepare for my first ever picket line tomorrow.