SMEARS MUST END AS NEW DEFENCE CHIEF TAKES POST

As General Sir David Richards takes over as Chief of the Defence Staff today (Friday) the SNP called on the UK Government to get behind the new forces commander – and put an end to the Labour smear campaign which had been directed at his predecessor.

SNP Westminster leader and Defence spokesperson Angus Robertson MP said Ministers must give their full support to Gen Richards as he focuses on the military effort in Afghanistan . Labour has been under fire over attempts to smear his predecessor, General Sir Richard Dannatt, after a peer, Lord Foulkes, tabled parliamentary questions seeking to embarrass the head of the Armed Forces. Lord Foulkes previously accused Gen Dannatt of giving 'succour to the enemy' for demanding more helicopters in Afghanistan, and recent media reports suggest Labour are co-ordinating an effort to smear the outgoing commander.

Mr Robertson said:

“General Richards takes on his role at a critical time, and he must be able to count on the support of ministers and be able to speak frankly about operational issues without fear of vilification.
“Sir David’s predecessor spoke out about defence needs and was met with slurs and smears from Labour.

“Instead of asking serious questions about equipment and military strategy, Lord Foulkes was more interested in trying to embarrass the chief of the defence staff over his travel arrangements. As our forces face very difficult challenges in Afghanistan , we must have no repeat of these petty attacks.

“The UK Government must give our forces, at every level, the support they need as they serve the country.”

AS AFGHANISTAN GOES TO POLLS, UK MUST RECONSIDER STRATEGY

As the people of Afghanistan go to the polls in today’s (Thursday) elections, the SNP has reiterated calls for a strategic rethink of operations in Afghanistan .

SNP Westminster leader and Defence spokesperson Angus Robertson MP, who visited forces on the frontline in Afghanistan earlier this year, said that a candid review of strategy is essential to convince people that the UK government has an achievable strategy.

The run up to the Afghan presidential election has seen very heavy losses with the number of British service personnel lost in the conflict exceeding 200 with serious questions being asked of the UK ’s approach. In recent days, head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, has called for more resources warning that key shortages are undermining operations to protect troops from roadside bombs while the UK’s former ambassador to the UN, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, says the army has been "holding a wall up" in Helmand, but "no one has come along to build a buttress" of development.

Mr Robertson said:

“Earlier this year I saw at first hand the reality of the situation facing our brave forces, now is the time for total candour on the human and material cost of the ongoing operations, its timescale and its chances for success.

“In recent months, senior military sources have raised real concerns about the resources being made available while the UK ’s former ambassador to the UN has questioned the lack of development policy in the region.

“History shows that conflicts in Afghanistan are incredibly complex. We need to avoid mission creep by focusing on what it is we want to achieve in Afghanistan .

“It is imperative we undertake a major review of our strategy – a review of both deployment of resources and political objectives.”

EVE OF ELECTION CALL AFGHAN STRATEGY RETHINK

DANNATT RESOURCE CONCERNS PILE ON PRESSURE

On the eve of the Afghan elections the SNP has repeated calls for a strategic rethink of operations in Afghanistan . The calls come as the head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, has called for more resources warning that key shortages are undermining operations to protect troops from roadside bombs.

SNP Westminster leader and Defence spokesperson Angus Robertson MP, who visited forces on the frontline in Afghanistan earlier this year, has argued that a candid review of strategy is essential to convince people that the government has an achievable strategy.

Mr Robertson said:

“General Dannatt’s calls must be a wake up call for Ministers and his intervention heaps even more pressure on the Government for a major rethink about operations and resources in Afghanistan .

“In particular General Dannatt’s demand for more surveillance systems raises serious questions just as the MoD has cancelled the Soothsayer intelligence system and as Ministers review plans to buy or upgrade surveillance aircraft.

“There are also doubts over the future of the Reaper drones used to locate Taliban forces. At present only two of the five drones ordered are operating, and it has emerged that the third has not been cleared to fly in US airspace for training purposes while the remaining two are not scheduled to be delivered until 2010.

“These concerns clearly add to growing fears that resource limitations are contributing to the deaths of service personnel in Afghanistan , and Ministers need to address that immediately.

“As well as getting the resources they need, our military personnel deserve a realistic and focussed approach from the UK government – and Ministers must take the initiative after the Afghan elections to rethink our strategy and objectives reflecting the wider regional concerns.

“Earlier this year I saw at first hand the reality of the situation facing our brave forces, now is the time for total candour on the human and material cost of the ongoing operations, its timescale and its chances for success.”