None of these would, at this stage, have "a combat role". Indeed, it now appeared that 90 troops were already on the ground, for "logistics, intelligence and surveillance support". Everyone, said the Defence Minister, Philip Hammond, yesterday, would be taking part for just "a short intervention to stabilise things on the ground". Very soon, the local Africans will take over. No one will be "in combat". It was just a case of in-and-out, easy to handle, reasonable, no trouble.