Afstan: Brits will after all "hunt down and kill insurgents"
Just like the Canadians (see Lisa LaFlamme's W5 story) and contrary to what the UK Defence Secretary Reid was saying in late January.
British troops will be ordered to conduct "seek and destroy" operations in southern Afghanistan, according to documents seen by the Sunday Telegraph.
The plans, which form part of a briefing document for senior officers, have revealed that troops will take part in missions to hunt down and kill insurgents, despite an explicit government assurance that this would not happen...
Under the heading "Deep Manoeuvre Effects", the document states that the troops will "find and track insurgents, interdict and disrupt opposition sanctuaries and locations and defeat (eventually)", which, according to one source, is an accurate description of a "seek and destroy" operation...
This is what Minister of National Defence O'Connor was maintaining on February 26:
"We're not in Afghanistan to conduct combat operations," Mr. O'Connor said...
Perhaps the Minister might take the opportunity to be a bit less economical with the truth--as should the UK Defence Secretary.
At least both the UK forces (which will under the Canadian-commanded Multi-National Brigade HQ at Kandahar) and our soldiers seem to have similar "robust" rules of engagement. But one wonders if the Dutch contigent of the Brigade (the Dutch will be ready for operations in August) will also have similar rules of engagement.
Indeed the UK Commons Defence Committee has raised the issue:
...
The committee said it was concerned that so-called national caveats from NATO rules of engagement might impair the effectiveness of the mission in the southern provinces...
On other hand the Dutch will have their own AH-64 attack helicopters and F-16 fighters to work with their soldiers (the Brits will also have their own helicopter support).
H/t to Norman's Spectator.
Update: Several W5 video clips, courtesy Blue Blogging Soapbox.
Cross-posted to Daimnation!
British troops will be ordered to conduct "seek and destroy" operations in southern Afghanistan, according to documents seen by the Sunday Telegraph.
The plans, which form part of a briefing document for senior officers, have revealed that troops will take part in missions to hunt down and kill insurgents, despite an explicit government assurance that this would not happen...
Under the heading "Deep Manoeuvre Effects", the document states that the troops will "find and track insurgents, interdict and disrupt opposition sanctuaries and locations and defeat (eventually)", which, according to one source, is an accurate description of a "seek and destroy" operation...
This is what Minister of National Defence O'Connor was maintaining on February 26:
"We're not in Afghanistan to conduct combat operations," Mr. O'Connor said...
Perhaps the Minister might take the opportunity to be a bit less economical with the truth--as should the UK Defence Secretary.
At least both the UK forces (which will under the Canadian-commanded Multi-National Brigade HQ at Kandahar) and our soldiers seem to have similar "robust" rules of engagement. But one wonders if the Dutch contigent of the Brigade (the Dutch will be ready for operations in August) will also have similar rules of engagement.
Indeed the UK Commons Defence Committee has raised the issue:
...
The committee said it was concerned that so-called national caveats from NATO rules of engagement might impair the effectiveness of the mission in the southern provinces...
On other hand the Dutch will have their own AH-64 attack helicopters and F-16 fighters to work with their soldiers (the Brits will also have their own helicopter support).
H/t to Norman's Spectator.
Update: Several W5 video clips, courtesy Blue Blogging Soapbox.
Cross-posted to Daimnation!
posted by Mark, Ottawa at 10:10 a.m.
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