Afstan update: UK government not coming clean; now it is
It appears there is more economy with the truth under Tony Blair than under Stephen Harper.
...
...Officers have also warned that unless restrictions are relaxed on when soldiers can open fire the Taliban may inflict major losses.
Commanders complain that John Reid, the defence secretary, has tried to prevent news of attacks coming out and that they cannot make even the most minor military decision without referring it to his office for approval. So far, actions in southern Afghanistan have left at least five soldiers wounded, two seriously.
“The government is hiding the truth from the public,” one senior officer said last week. “I am sure they believe that if Afghanistan turns sour it will bring down the prime minister.
“If they don’t send more troops than the single battle-group that is going now, and allow them to do their job properly by giving them robust rules of engagement, then I can pretty much guarantee it will turn sour.”..
And are UK soldiers there to fight or not?
The Army and the Royal Marines are planning "search and destroy operations" against insurgent forces, The Sunday Telegraph revealed last week, despite assurances from John Reid, the Defence Secretary, that this would not happen.
Officers believe that such offensive operations are vital if British troops are to defend themselves safely from attacks and form a recognised part of the Army's "counter-insurgency" doctrine.
Mr Reid, however, had told the House of Commons that British troops were not going to Afghanistan "to wage war or carry out seek and destroy", operations that the Americans had been mounting.
The Government has repeatedly stated that Britain will take part only in counter-insurgency operations and not counter-terrorist operations...
Update: Defence Secretary Reid comes clean after all.
John Reid, the Defence Secretary, conceded yesterday that British troops in Afghanistan may launch offensive missions that involve hunting down and killing Taliban insurgents.
The statement came after months of uncertainty following the announcement that 3,300 troops would be sent to Helmand province in southern Afghanistan.
The Government had insisted that Nato troops would not move beyond peace-keeping duties and helping reconstruction efforts, despite American pressure for them to take on a combat role...
H/t to Norman's Spectator.
Cross-posted to Daimnation!
...
...Officers have also warned that unless restrictions are relaxed on when soldiers can open fire the Taliban may inflict major losses.
Commanders complain that John Reid, the defence secretary, has tried to prevent news of attacks coming out and that they cannot make even the most minor military decision without referring it to his office for approval. So far, actions in southern Afghanistan have left at least five soldiers wounded, two seriously.
“The government is hiding the truth from the public,” one senior officer said last week. “I am sure they believe that if Afghanistan turns sour it will bring down the prime minister.
“If they don’t send more troops than the single battle-group that is going now, and allow them to do their job properly by giving them robust rules of engagement, then I can pretty much guarantee it will turn sour.”..
And are UK soldiers there to fight or not?
The Army and the Royal Marines are planning "search and destroy operations" against insurgent forces, The Sunday Telegraph revealed last week, despite assurances from John Reid, the Defence Secretary, that this would not happen.
Officers believe that such offensive operations are vital if British troops are to defend themselves safely from attacks and form a recognised part of the Army's "counter-insurgency" doctrine.
Mr Reid, however, had told the House of Commons that British troops were not going to Afghanistan "to wage war or carry out seek and destroy", operations that the Americans had been mounting.
The Government has repeatedly stated that Britain will take part only in counter-insurgency operations and not counter-terrorist operations...
Update: Defence Secretary Reid comes clean after all.
John Reid, the Defence Secretary, conceded yesterday that British troops in Afghanistan may launch offensive missions that involve hunting down and killing Taliban insurgents.
The statement came after months of uncertainty following the announcement that 3,300 troops would be sent to Helmand province in southern Afghanistan.
The Government had insisted that Nato troops would not move beyond peace-keeping duties and helping reconstruction efforts, despite American pressure for them to take on a combat role...
H/t to Norman's Spectator.
Cross-posted to Daimnation!
posted by Mark, Ottawa at 10:25 a.m.
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