AMONG the truths universally acknowledged is that the utterances of politicians are rarely quite what they seem.

Faced with the increasing unpopularity of the Afghanistan war, the Cameron-Clegg coalition has made what is widely seen as a commitment to withdraw British troops by 2015. It’s easy to overlook a qualifying phrase that almost always accompanies the promise of withdrawal “from a combat role”. Or the forces to be withdrawn are “combat troops”.

David Cameron perhaps said more than he intended when, under pressure to clarify remarks by Nick Clegg, he let slip that other troops would probably remain. Rather stumblingly, he said: “To give people some certainty, we have said, to be clear, that in 2015 there are not going to be combat troops, or large numbers of British troops, in Afghanistan.”

The inference is that “small” numbers will remain – doubtless to train Afghans. But will that stop them being targeted by the Taliban, who are sure to remain dedicated to removing all foreign troops from Afghan soil?

This week’s exposure of far more civilian deaths caused by the allies than has been admitted can only help the Taliban – and perpetuate British losses beyond the end of any “combat” role.

IN his first interview since being firmly ousted as Prime Minister, Gordon Brown insisted he was “not interested in another job”. That might be a relief to the 29,559 voters who re-elected Mr Brown to the job he still holds – MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath.

On the other hand, even their loyalty might be tested by Mr Brown’s failure, since the General Election almost three months ago, to appear in his London place of work.

BY widespread and sad consent, not merely snooker, but the entire world of sport has lost a “legend” with the death of the mercurial, mould-breaking snooker genius, Alex “Hurricane” Higgins.

But the tobacco industry has lost something more precious – an unswerving, nothing- daunted contributor to its profits. Reportedly, two throat operations didn’t deter the ill-fated star from continuing to smoke 80 Marlboro cigarettes a day almost up to his death. Perhaps Marlboro would care to print on its packets an image of the gaunt, tragic, latter-day “Hurricane” as a tribute.

IF you want the protection of the law, first get on the wrong side of it – big time.

That’s one message that emerged from the reappearance in court of Jon Venables, one of the killers of two-year-old James Bulger, who breached the conditions of his prison release by downloading child pornography.

The court heard that Venables, who had been given a new identity, phoned his probation officer to say his real identity had become known and he feared for his safety.

Within half an hour the probation officer arrived at his flat “to take him to a secure, safe address”.

Pity that this doesn’t always happen with innocent people, some of whom have paid with their lives for the failure of the authorities to respond to warnings of a likely attack.

HOPES of mankind colonising the moon have been raised by the discovery of huge water reserves. It’s in the form of “hydroxide ions” – locked in rocks – from which it would be extracted. Wouldn’t it be far wiser, and easier, to take better care of our own planet, including its water?