DISTRAUGHT dad Carl Bush can't bear to think about the political storm over the Afghanistan war.

All he knows is that a Taliban bomb has claimed the life of his brave soldier son Shaun, 24.

"I'm just so proud of him," said Carl. "He died a hero."

Carl and his children last week joined a growing group of 212 families who have lost loved ones in the bloody war - which led defence aide Eric Joyce to quit in protest this week.

Writing in today's News of the World, Mr Joyce agrees with grieving Carl that Fusilier Bush and his fallen comrades died as heroes.

SO BRA VE: Fusilier Bush in action

He says: "I hope part of his legacy will be that his death caused us all to pause to reflect on what's really going on in Afghanistan - why our people are there; when they'll leave."

But such questions do not trouble Shaun's heartbroken father, Carl. He said: "I stay well away from politics.

"All I know is that we're fighting a war on terrorism, and Our Boys are out there fighting for the good of our country.

"People are welcome to their own opinions. But I just know that my son was proud to serve his country and we all stood by his choice."

HAS GORDON BROWN LET DOWN OUR TROOPS? TELL US BELOW

Shaun, of the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, died ten days ago at the Royal College of Defence Medicine, where he was rushed after the bombing a week earlier.

He was running to the aid of Sgt Simon Valentine, who was blown up while on foot patrol in Sangin, when he was struck down by a secondary device.

"I just can't believe he's not coming home," said Carl between long, stunned silences. "It hasn't sunk in - maybe it never will. He died trying to save someone else. It doesn't surprise me at all.

"It's the kind of lad he was. He'd do anything for anyone."

It was the Coventry City fan's childhood dream to join the Army and aged 21 Shaun achieved it. Carl said: "It was what he always wanted. It made sense when he signed up."

His son's death is another crippling hurdle life has thrown at the family, who lost mother Diane last Christmas due to liver failure.

Carl, who lives in Coventry, said: "It's been a tough year. When I got that call first to tell me about Shaun, I just thought how can I tell his brother and sister?"

SAD FAMILY: Hannah, Carl & Lewis

At the mere mention of Shaun's name his 17-year-old sister Hannah's face beams with pride. "I'm always so proud to say he's my brother," she said. "He's the best brother in the world."

When Shaun was back home all his time and money was spent making his family's life a little more fun.

His brother Lewis, 16, said: "The first thing he did was take me out shopping for computer games and trainers. He took us all out for a meal when he was back in July and it was great. On the morning when he left to go back to Afghanistan he tried giving us money.

"We wouldn't take it but he'd never take no for an answer. He just left a pile of notes out for us."

His sister couldn't even face being in the room as Shaun said what turned out to be his last goodbye. Hannah said: "I had to wait out in the garden because it was too hard.

"I always hated saying goodbye. And now he's never coming back."

For just over a week the family and Shaun's girlfriend Amy Taggart, kept a bedside vigil at the hospital.

Carl said: "The doctors and nurses there were second to none.

"You never think you're going to lose your lad. We thought he'd be fine once he was there."

But hope died on August 26, when doctors told the family news they thought they'd never hear.

Hands trembling and barely able to let the words pass his lips, Carl said: "The doctors brought me into a room. They said Shaun's condition had taken a turn for the worse and they didn't think he'd make it.

"He was dead only hours later. I can't imagine life without him."

SO IN LOVE: Amy & her Shaun

Shaun never questioned the military leaders whose decisions and instructions he - and 9,000 other troops - faithfully carried out. Many have griped about the lack of equipment and support our soldiers receive.

But Carl said: "All I know is what Shaun told me and he never complained about any of it.

"In fact he always spoke very highly of the kit they had. He could never make out why everyone back home moaned so much about it."

Girlfriend Amy, 21, remembers Shaun as her "beautiful brave hero".

She said: "Shaun was more than just my boyfriend, he was my best friend. He was my first and only true love.

"I don't know what I will do without my soulmate, the man of my dreams, my perfect match. I'll never stop loving him.

"I am devastated to have lost him but so proud to have known him and to say that he was mine."

WE MUST RALLY

RESIGNING from a minor government appointment isn't a particularly noble thing to do - it's usually a lot harder to stick in and be part of a team effort, to tell the truth.

MP and ex-Army major who quit as Defence aide in protest at the Government policy in Afghanistan

For me, it's simply a personal matter of the way I see things at this critical moment: What the folk I talk to inside and outside the services and especially what people in my constituency of Falkirk think.

It will become clear this week that President Karzai has "won" on the first round of the Afghan elections. Folk in the UK will ask what that means and measure it against the risk our Forces take.

It'll be a defining "is it worth it" moment which might represent the final chance for politicians to convince the public to stick with it.

I've no doubt at all that if the allies weren't in Afghanistan then the place, bordering a febrile Pakistan, would become a vacuum which would pull in bordering countries - a great danger to all of us. That's why our brave forces are there, taking the risks that they do.

The public is behind them, but have legitimate doubts about the mission. The wisdom of crowds is right. There's a sad last rite of passage going on in Wooton Bassett, Alloa and Dundee and many injured casualties have moved back to their loved ones.

Shaun Bush most certainly died a hero, along with many of his much-loved comrades. I hope part of his legacy will be that his death caused us all to pause to reflect on what's really going on in Afghanistan; why our people are there; when they'll leave.

People want the job done properly but right now they can't see an end in sight and the corruption of the Afghanistan regime doesn't help.

We need to make it clear that there's a big last push coming which will last for a couple of years yet, but then we'll be out. We need total clarity on that.

And, for the moment, we make it clear that we won't push the electoral abuse and idiotic legislation of President Karzai under the carpet.

Afghanistan isn't going to be a regular democracy any time soon, but by the UK election after next it should be enough to ensure that the place isn't a risk to us, while enabling us to put in people for the much longer term who will help that benighted place develop over time.

The Prime Minister, a truly fine man, made an important speech on Friday. He addressed many important matters of detail. He has Afghanistan at the forefront of his mind. I don't know what he and his advisers are thinking now, but I hope it is these three things: First, we must be direct with the British people that while terrorism can come from many places, the present fight is necessary to prevent the region disintegrating.

Second, we must make it crystal clear that our military task in Afghanistan will be over during the next period of government.

Third, our total commitment to our troops will be clear by the way we look after them and their loved ones, where issues like injury compensation, and many others, loom large.

As for the next UK general election? It should be literally the furthest thing from our minds.

The security of the British people is the first task of any government. And the well-being of our troops comes next.

If the Prime Minister and Labour get that right now, the public will judge us fairly.

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