Cause and Effect No. II

Decmeber 9th 2007: A law to cut red tape – hailed by Gordon Brown as a crucial means of reducing the burden on business – has failed to axe or even amend a single regulation in the first year of its existence. - Financial Times

December 11th 2007: Cuts to red tape are saving UK businesses and third sector organisations more than £800 million per year, according to a Government report released today. - Government News Network

Cause and Effect?

November 23rd: Gordon Brown attacked by former military chiefs
December 10th: Gordon Brown visits troops in Basra and promises handover by Christmas

Is this just a cynical post or was that a cynical visit?