Frustration mounts over Obama's fatal indecision
As Gordon Brown defends Britain's Afghan mission as US comes under pressure to decide on strategy
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A sea of crosses for servicemen killed in Afghanistan outside Westminster Abbey yesterday at the official opening of the Royal British Legion's Field of Remembrance
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Barack Obama is coming under mounting international pressure to make an early decision on his strategy in Afghanistan amid fears of a dangerous drift as he agonises over his next moves.
Today Gordon Brown will mount a strong defence of the British presence in Afghanistan. He will say that the training of Afghan security forces by British troops must continue despite the killing of five soldiers by a policeman this week. "We cannot, must not and will not walk away," he will declare. The Prime Minister will not enter the intense debate over whether the US President should approve a request from General Stanley McChrystal, the US commander in Afghanistan, to send 40,000 more troops.
But there is growing concern in London and in Nato governments about the time it is taking for the Obama administration to decide its strategy. "It's make your mind up time," one minister said. A Ministry of Defence source added: "Without a decision there is a concern that the British public will lose faith."
John Hutton, the former Defence Secretary, said: "When you are in the middle of a campaign like this, you have got to make decisions promptly. You need a proper wartime mentality."
Janet Napolitano, the US Homeland Security Secretary, insisted there could be no "rush to judgement" over a question that "deserves full consideration".
In a major speech in London this morning, Mr Brown will declare that Britain is in Afghanistan out of necessity, not choice. He will insist that the war is winnable with the right strategy – building up the Afghan security forces – which is being pursued. He will admit that training the Afghan army and police force is risky but say: "We will not give up this strategy of mentoring, because it is what distinguishes a liberating army from an army of occupation."
Echoing Winston Churchill, he will say: "Just as in the past we learned of the bravery and sacrifice of British soldiers in the first and second world wars; in their fight to protect freedom in our nation and the world; so our children will learn of the heroism of today's men and women fighting in Afghanistan, protecting our nation and the rest of the world from the threat of global terrorism."
Mr Brown will set five tests for the newly re-elected Afghan President Hamid Karzai – and told him about them in a telephone call yesterday. They are: ensuring an extra 134,000 Afghan troops by the end of next year at a rate of 5,000 month, with Britain ready to train 5,000 in Helmand province; leading the fight against corruption, with Mr Brown saying "cronies and warlords" must have no place in the new Afghanistan; bringing moderate elements allied to the Taliban back into the political fold in an act of reconciliation; better use of international aid to ensure economic development and closer co-operation with Pakistan.
Mr Brown will warn that international support depends on the scale of the Afghan President's ambition and how measures up to these five tests. "He needs a contract with the Afghan people; a contract against which Afghans, as well as the international community, can judge his success," he will say.
MPs in all parties believe the killing of the five soldiers may prove a "tipping point" in political and public opinion. A YouGov survey for Channel 4 News found that only 33 per cent of British people believe the Taliban can be defeated, down from 42 per cent two weeks ago, and 35 per cent want troops withdrawn immediately, up 10 points. The Prime Minister will say: "We entered together eight years ago. We must persist together; in our different ways we must all contribute; in the end we will succeed or fail together. We will not be deterred, dissuaded or diverted from taking whatever measures are necessary to protect our security."
Fallen heroes: Tributes to murdered soldiers
'You are my rock, my refuge, and I will love and miss you more than words can say'
Acting Corporal Steven Boote
The 22-year-old from Birkenhead, Liverpool, had volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan, after joining the Territorial Army in 2006.
He had worked as a security team leader at a Tesco store, and had hoped to join the police when he returned to Britain. His girlfiend, Emma Murray, said: "Your cheeky smile would fill everyone with happiness. Steven I love you so much. You are my rock, my refuge and I will love and miss you more than words can say."
Corporal Boote's Company Commander, Major Phil Hacker, said that he "revelled in army life".
"Courageous by nature, he was an outstanding solider who always volunteered for the most difficult tasks," he said. "He inspired confidence in all those he served with and we are all so proud and feel so humble to have served with him."
His parents, Margaret and Anthony, said he would "light up a room with a single smile".
'He ran more than a mile to evacuate me. I owe him everything'
Darren Chant, Warrant Officer Class 1, 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards
WO1 Chant, from Walthamstow, east London, who was due to become a father for the fourth time, died on the day he was due to be informed he had won a commission as an officer. Earlier this year he had single-handedly carried to safety a colleague whose leg had been blown off in a bomb attack. Fellow Grenadier Guardsman Scott Blaney said: "Drill sergeant Daz Chant put me on his shoulders and ran more than a mile to the point where the chopper had flown to evacuate me. I owe him everything."
His wife, Nausheen Chant, said: "Our unborn son will never meet his father, but he will know him through his legacy. For whether in uniform or out, his incomparable courage and selflessness humbled all those who knew and loved him. I will miss my best friend and nothing will fill the void he has left, my darling Darren. I am immensely proud to say he was my husband."
'I don't know what I'm going to tell my son. I don't want to say nasty men have killed daddy'
Sergeant Matthew Telford, 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards
The 33-year-old, from Grimsby, joined the army when he was 16. He leaves behind his wife, Kerry, and two sons, Harry and Callum. Mrs Telford said her husband had left a letter for each of them. In Harry's letter he explained why he had gone to Afghanistan and how he was helping people there to live normal lives because they had nobody else to defend them.
Mrs Telford, 33, told the Grimsby Telegraph: "I don't know what I'm going to say to him. I don't want to say that nasty men have killed daddy – I want to be able to tell him that he's in heaven now and has gone to be with the angels."
Described as a "gentle giant", Sgt Telford died while working as a mentor for the Afghan police. Captain Bernie Broad, Quartermaster Technical, First Battalion Grenadier Guards, said: "A larger than life character, he was large, fit and intelligent. Throughout his career his enthusiasm for the job never diminished and with his excellent sense of humour and gentle touch for such a giant of a man, he was known, respected, and trusted by all."
'You always think it might happen, but we only spoke to him on Tuesday night'
Guardsman James Major
The teenager from Grimsby would have turned 19 next Thursday. His family had recently sent presents to Afghanistan. His father, Adrian, said: "I'm just shell shocked. You always think it might happen but we only spoke to him on the Tuesday night." He completed his infantry training in November last year.
On the day his son left for Afghanistan, Mr Major had hung a Union flag on the side of the house. Many people have left cards and flowers there over the last two days. One reads: "You are a true hero. God bless you. Love from a mother of a serving soldier in Afghanistan." Other well-wishers had left a football emblazoned with messages of condolences and a teddy bear embroidered with the words "I love you".
Lance Sergeant Peter Baily, Signaller, Commanding Officer's Tactical Command Group, said Guardsman Major "immediately came across as a very intelligent and motivated soldier – a quiet soldier at first, but he came out of his shell quickly and showed a rare comical side that kept the rest of the TAC group in high spirits."
'He was one of the most loving, generous and kind-hearted men you will ever meet'
Corporal Nicholas Webster-Smith
The corporal, 24, was born in Carmarthen, Wales, and lived in Brackley, Northamptonshire. He enlisted in the Royal Military Police in 2005 and had already completed a tour of Afghanistan. He had also served in Kosovo and the Falkland Islands, where he was awarded a Commander British Forces Falkland Islands Commendation.
Among messages left on his facebook page, his girlfriend Emma Robinson said: "I love you so much and just can't believe this is happening. You have made me so happy and we have had so many happy memories together which will never be forgotten. I love you always."
In a statement from the Ministry of Defence, his family said he was "one of the most loving, generous, kind-hearted men you could meet".
His Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Debbie Poneskis (Commanding Officer 4th Battalion Royal Military Police), described Cpl Webster-Smith as a "real character".
"A professional and determined soldier, Cpl Webster-Smith was always the first to volunteer and the last to give up," she said. "A spirited non-commissioned officer with a keen sense of humour, Cpl Webster-Smith was at his most comfortable in the midst of fellow soldiers, either guiding and mentoring them, or having a laugh and a joke with them."
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Comments
Troops out now.
So brown is echoing Winston Churchill, is he?
If it wasn’t so tragic I’d be tempted to laugh my arse off about your inconsequential nonsense, certainly in the light of your article a few days back on the lack of impartial media in Russia.
But then again, I realise that I probably lack a proper wartime mentality..
After more than 8 years of occupation in Afghanistan the education system remains in horrible condition. The World Bank estimates that 75 percent of the $36 billion in development funding sent to Afghanistan is pocketed by the government leaders that NATO is supporting.
The future is bleak for the students of Afghanistan. According to the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission:
http://www.aihrc.org.af/English/Eng_pag
The last thing that the people of Afghanistan need is more troops to continue to extend the control of the warlords. In the words of Afghan educator and MP, Malalai Joya, ?Today the soil of Afghanistan is full of land mines, bullets, and bombs - when what we really need is an invasion of hospitals, clinics, and schools for boys and girls.?
What they have is corruption. Over a million Afghans are now addicted to Heroin. Thanks to the US and NATO. They are doing a real bang up job. Most of the money is going to the Corrupt government instead of the people who really need it.
The country is now run by Warlords and Drug lords.
Ahmed Wali Karzai, the brother of the Afghan president and a suspected player in the country?s booming illegal opium trade, gets regular payments from the Central Intelligence Agency, and has for much of the past eight years, according to current and former American officials. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/w
I am beginning to wonder whether we ought not to be increasing the pressure on the Taliban in tandem with the Pakistanis, and at the same time vastly increase aid - but spend that money through UN agencies, not through any Afghan agencies, which are clearly riddled with corruption. One thing's for sure, Karzai now knows that we know that he cannot be trusted, and that might make him do a better job. Another thing is for sure; we cannot simply leave Afghanistan to the Taliban. IN the long term, the country's poverty and lack of health and education need to be addressed fully before we can be remotely sure that the Taliban will not again be the prime force in the country. This is a just war - but only just.
The Taliban had destroyed all the poppy fields now they are growing to beat the band.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1B2GGIC_en__206CA206&q=CIA+drug+smuggling&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g1
There is tons of stuff out there.
Just Google
CIA Drug Dealers
CIA Drug Runners
http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.ph
Now thy say the Taliban and Al Qaeda are getting the a lot of the money and in the next breath:
"""But the Obama Administration remains intent upon protecting the poppies so that the Afghan farmers and local drug lords can reap the benefits of what purports to be a bumper crop.""""
That says it all. The troops are protecting the poppy fields. It's worth $5 billion to $16 billion. After its cut and sold it is worth a whole lot more.
With these enormous problems to deal with, it's difficult to see a military solution for achieving a positive end result, for in reality, the war is one being fought to eradicate Muslim fundamentalism, which exists in other Islamic countries...see now what's happening in neighbouring Pakistan. The situation is comparable to the spread of cancer - cut off the tumour, to see it growing elsewhere.
"the news from Afghanistan of three more British deaths is profoundly saddening and worrying. I recall President Bush (the idiot who can't even pronounce the word 'nuclear' properly) declaring, after what the Americans call "9/11," that he/they/we were 'gonna smoke him [Osama bin Laden] out.' I supported the intention of doing that but bin Laden hasn't been found, let alone been 'smoked out,' after nearly seven years. It appears to me that the time has come for us to draw a line under a disaster and to tell Mr Bush that one hundred British lives lost is enough. The British Empire (which I still hanker for) failed to tame the Afghans, the Soviet Empire admitted defeat at their hands and still we think that we can succeed where others failed and fell. If I thought that there was still a possibility of 'smoking out' Mr bin Laden, I would support as stoutly as anyone the continuing sacrifices of ourselves and the Americans. But I can't help thinking that 'special forces' might have more success than our armies and that the latter should be withdrawn forthwith."
Now we have 230 British dead and unnumbered wounded and what has been achieved since?
Bring our boys home now. President Obama should order likewise for the American people.
Donkeys leading lions, again.
President Obama is not dithering by delaying the announcement of decision as to the increase in the
new troop numbers for Afghanistan. General McChyrstal in an classified document in September made two requests for new troop levels . Low risk of failure 60,000 -80,000 new troops , Medium risk of failure 40,000- 45,000. Any numbers below 40,000 would have a high risk of failure. Than in act of disloyalty to the commander-in-chief President Obama either he or his staff leaked the contents of this classified document to the Washington Post.
On 15 October. Pentagon officials made an counter leak to the McClatchy Newspapers which stated that only 30,000 troops would be available within three months. The morale of the volunteer force is under strain due to the fact that the majority of fighting soldiers and marines have served multiple combat tours in either Iraq or Afghanistan . The only way larger numbers could be provided would be to extend tours of duty or reducing time at home between tours, which could further strain the forces.Gen. Peter Chiarelli, the vice chief of staff of the Army, has said that extending tours to 15 months, as the military did during the 2007 surge in Iraq, could break the forces.
Army soldiers now serve one year of combat and get a minimum of one year off. Marines serve seven-month deployments and get at least 14 months off. General McChyrstal has proved his disloyalty by making an unrealistic request for troop levels and than leaking it to the media. President Obama is now in a Harry Truman/ General MacArthur dilemma . Should he fire the untrustworthy General or give him an other chance with the troop numbers available. . As General McChyrstal has indicated that his chances of bringing the war to a successful conclusion with the troop numbers available are little or none. President Obama should start a search for a replacement General with a plan to bring the war to a successful conclusion with the troops available.
guardian.co.uk/.../08/general-mcchrystal-t
US lacks enough troops for low-risk' Afghan option(MiamiHerald). Also more stories(news), videos, tweets and digg stories(news) about afghanistan, barack obama
mashget.com/2009/10/15/us-lacks-enough-t
is likely to include the dispatch of 23,000 combat and support troops, 7,000 troops for a new ... Obama leaning toward 34,000 more troops for Afghanistan ...
www.mcclatchydc.com/world/story/78516.ht
General McChrystal might think that his mission is worth breaking the Army and Marine Corp but not President Obama and
Secretary Gates. He isn't going to get his 60,000-80,000 troops.. Look for an early retirement
1) Vietnam was split into the Communist North and the Capitalist South, which motivated many Vietnamese to try to reunite the two countries and provided the Viet Cong with a safe haven (North Vietnam). Afghanistan has not been split and there is no safe haven for the Taliban (Pakistan does not give the Taliban anywhere near the support North Vietnam gave to the Viet Cong).
2) The Government of South Vietnam was appointed by the USA, while the Government of Afghanistan was elected by the Afghan people. As such the Afghan government is far more popular than the South Vietnamese Government was.
3) China supplied weapons and equipment to the Viet Cong but they are not supplying the Taliban with any weapons. Nor is any other neighbouring country attempting to resupply the Taliban.
4) While many people in South Vietnam wanted to be under the Government of North Vietnam few Afghans want the Taliban to return.
Without the support of the people and a foreign power the Taliban will be crushed, just as the Tamil Tigers were.
2) Well, Kharzai is there by the grace of USA/UK/UN.
3) So the Taliban must have local support. Even more cause to stand back.
4) It depends where you ask the question, and what question you ask.
2) As I asked yesterday - do you actually read the news. It was a rigged election, just like Diem in Vietnam.
3) Who cares where they get them, they certainly have enough.
4) What polling data did you use for that?
The Tamil Tigers were not killing British or US Troops
It is harrowing to see the grief of those families blighted by the loss of dearly loved men and it is a national outrage that these losses are the result of cynical politicking by the likes of warmonger Blair and gutless Gordon. I respect the sacrifices made by these soldiers who did their duty and I think it is time that Brown found the courage to do his by calling a halt to this pointless war.
Never was the phrase "lions lead by donkeys" more appropriate.
Lap dog for sure. Not the outcome we expected however.
...when did they ever have it??
They tell us that Afghanistan has to be transformed so it's no longer a risk to western countries.
Is a huge expense in money as well as lives justified if it ensures that Afghanistan never again poses a risk to western countries?
I don't think so. Because even if Afghanistan is pacified and neutered terrorists can move elsewhere. Better to spend money on improving our own country and improving the lives of our own citizens - health, housing, education, old age pensions.