Hague calls on Labour to clear up Afghanistan confusion

William Hague has called for greater clarity from Ministers about Britain's mission in Afghanistan.

The Shadow Foreign Secretary was speaking following the publication of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee's report on Afghanistan, which states that the Government's strategy has suffered from significant "mission creep".

William said the report confirmed the Conservatives' view that Britain's objectives in Afghanistan should be "realistic, tightly-defined and subjected to regular formal assessment."

He warned that the report should serve as "a wake-up call to the Government", who must clear up the "confusion" about what we are trying to achieve in Afghanistan, adding:

"We need to know that the right strategy is in place, that Whitehall is working properly to deliver it, and that British troops have all they need to do their part."

We need a comprehensive strategy in Afghanistan

William Hague has stressed a “comprehensive strategy” must be put in place to bring about a stable Afghanistan.

He said there was “nothing new” about David Miliband’s suggestion that moderate elements of the Taliban are included in talks in Afghanistan.

And he made clear that this must be only one element of our approach:

“(Our) strategy must include clear, tightly drawn, realistic objectives that are regularly reviewed, more rapid development of the Afghan security forces, and ensuring that the gains won by British forces on the battlefield are swiftly followed by reconstruction.”

“Above all, the British Government must ensure that our troops are properly equipped for the crucial operations they are involved in, including the earliest possible increase in the number of helicopters and armoured vehicles.”

PRESSURE MOUNTS ON PM FOR AFGHAN RETHINK

Questioning the Prime Minister today (Monday) after a G8 statement in the House of Commons SNP Westminster leader and Defence spokesperson, Angus Robertson MP, repeated calls for a serious review of UK strategy in Afghanistan – after next months Afghan elections – reflecting the widening conflict and concerns in relation to Pakistan.

Mr Robertson, who visited troops in Afghanistan in March, also expressed fears the window of opportunity in Afghanistan had been undermined because of the invasion of Iraq .

Mr Robertson said:

“We must have a candid review of strategy in Afghanistan , and take stock of the situation faced by our forces and of course the likelihood for success.

“From military commanders to the families of frontline troops people are not convinced that the best strategy has been pursued. The awful toll of military personnel killed in Afghanistan has understandably led to questions about just what our forces are fighting for, and there is a fear that the Iraq war has been a distraction from the early window of opportunity in Afghanistan .

“After almost eight years our military personnel deserve a realistic and focussed approach from the UK government – and Ministers must take the initiative after the Afghan elections next month 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.

“A military solution is clearly not enough – the idea that you are only going to secure your objective militarily is wrong. Perhaps most crucially we need development, as 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.

“What is required is a major rethink that looks at all the options, and that will give people, not least our troops themselves, the confidence that the right strategy is being pursued and is achievable.”

Child Bombers in Iraq. Our Fault or Theirs?

Radhika Coomaraswamy, a UN special representative has reported that insurgent groups in Iraq are recruiting children as suicide bombers. It doesn't surprise me one bit. Children are always exploited in peace as well as war. They are exploited because they are innocent and trusting. And as a species, we destroy the innocent and the trusting and for the smallest and pettiest of reasons sometimes.

Fact is that in conflict, children are used by the weaker side for a number of reasons I would imagine. Firstly I would imagine that a child is going to be scrutinised less by the enemy than a man in his late teens or twenties. Secondly, from a propaganda point of view, it always looks bad at home and to its supporters for a dominant or occupying force to be seen arresting or killing children. Lastly of course children if they are brought up well will respect their elders. To a certain extent they will believe what they are told by them and they will also probably do as they are told by them. Sick!

However before we all feel good about ourselves and revel in disgust at the people who do this to children, I think that I should mention a bit of an uncomfortable fact. This is just as much our fault as it is theirs. We invaded them. We upset their way of life. We were told we were doing it for one reason and when that reason failed to materialise, we were given another reason and we have more or less accepted it.

Sure, a few of us jumped up and down a little when it happened, less of us continued to jump when the lies were uncovered, but now it almost seems as if we have come to accept it and that is why we are as much to blame as anyone. Ask anyone in the street what their biggest worry at the end of the fourth month of 2008 is and they will give you any other answer than the war in Iraq of Afghanistan unless they have friends or relatives out there. In fact between Ross Kemp and Harry the whole thing has been turned into some kind of bloody adventure. It upsets me, no enrages me because as a nation we are more worried about house prices, petrol shortages and which dodgy second rate politician will be the mayor of London at the end of next week than we are in the suffering of the children of Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, South America, Asia or even here in the UK. Yes here in the UK!!! We might not be sending our kids to military checkpoints or targets strapped with bombs but we are allowing them to drink, take drugs and carry weapons that can kill as quickly as a bomb. Either way there are only a handful of people who are willing to say or do anything

Wake up UK. It's all going wrong and our apathy is the reason. Remember you can't blame the politicians because politicians will get away with what you allow them to get away with.