How Gordon Browns choice for Nato post made Americans laugh

By Richard Eden 1052PM GMT thirteen March 2010

Gordon Brown put brazen Des Browne for the purpose of Nato"s comparison municipal deputy for Afghanistan progressing this year Photo REX

Scarcely an moving counterclaim secretary, Des Browne looms large, however, in the thoughts of Gordon Brown.

Mandrake hears that the Prime Minister put brazen his old crony for the purpose of Nato"s comparison municipal deputy for Afghanistan progressing this year.

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Tellingly, though, his idea was vetoed by the Americans, with whom Browne would have had to work closely. Instead, Mark Sedwill, Britain"s envoy to Afghanistan, was since the job.

"The Americans laughed when Brown referred to Browne"s name," says my man in the Downing Street bunker. "Browne is still remembered by them, if no one else."

Col Stuart Tootal, who led the Parachute Regiment corps that was sent to Helmand Province in 2006, claimed that when Browne visited he could not assimilate because the Paras were concentrating on troops operations rather than growth projects.

In his book Danger Close Commanding 3 Para in Afghanistan, Tootal recalls putting him true "Because, sir, this is Afghanistan and we are in the center of a infamous counter-insurgency.""

Browne was allocated counterclaim cabinet member in 2006. An disciple of the British Trident programme, in 2007 he successfully swayed Parliament to opinion to reinstate Trident. He came underneath criticism, however, after permitting the Royal Navy crew prisoner by Iran in open 2007 to sell and tell their stories.

Under Tony Blair"s premiership, Browne was deliberate a believer of the afterwards Chancellor Brown. He perceived the one more responsibilities of cabinet member of state for Scotland in 2007 after Brown became PM.