YESTERDAY we saw almost 120 brave soldiers leave Dalton Barracks for Afghanistan and today we will solemnly mark the return of six others who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The contrast could hardly be starker.

It was made clear at yesterday’s deployment by the Ministry of Defence media handler that speaking about the deaths of the six was strictly off the agenda, an incongruous point philosophically when you consider our mission in Afghanistan is broadly to promote freedom.

But those six Union flag-draped coffins that will emerge from RAF Brize Norton were, despite the nervous anticipation and excitement the soldiers spoke of, looming large in the background.

We fully support our troops and salute their bravery but today there must be fresh questions over what we are doing in Afghanistan.

Those six who lost their lives no doubt were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice.

But the mission has changed since 2001 and we must evaluate as a country if we are still as clear of thought as we once were about what we hope to achieve and what we are prepared to give in its pursuit.