I happen to have just passed through Pisa airport, hardly one of Italy’s largest, and observed a unit mustering there. The men were wearing green shoulder flashes with the initials ISAF and underneath them some Arabic script. I asked several what the initials stood for, but nobody quite knew — I for International, AF for Armed Forces, but S? And in English too? It was obvious where they had been posted but they did not really like to say so. Kabul, Afghanistan. I did not like to ask what exactly their mission was. The Italian armed forces tend to receive a bad press, but these men were in great spirits, very soldierly, well turned out, calm and collected as they enjoyed a farewell pizza and espresso. They were also busy with mobile telephones, a new bit of kit since my army days and one that must change conditions in the field by keeping them in touch with home. Men over military age are a bit suspect when they say they wish they were younger and could go campaigning too, but that is just what I thought, with a surge of solidarity for these men and the task ahead of them.