Big British troops increase in Afstan?/Major operation

This really would be good news if it happens (as far as I can see only the National Post covered it in Canada):

Military chiefs have been in discussion to almost double troop numbers in Afghanistan, the Daily Telegraph understands. Senior military officers have held preliminary talks about troop strenght and believe increasing numbers up to approximately 14,000 from the current 8,200 may be necessary to defeat the Taliban.

During a trip to the frontline in Helmand province yesterday Des Browne said he already agreed on three occasions to military requests for increases. Mr Browne, who is the first senior politician to visit the volatile front line in Sangin town where 10 British troops have been killed since June, said British forces were making progress in Afghanistan [how much really?], but acknowledged it had come at a "high price".

He said: "The force level that we have in Afghanistan is one that was placed there on advice to do the job that we want it to do.

"And I have, twice or three times now, increased that force level. I am willing to do that if that's the military advice."

He denied that the force in Iraq would be reduced in order to release numbers for
Afghanistan. "We are not doing that to release additional troops to Afghanistan," he told BBC Radio 4.

But senior commanders, including the military's head Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, have suggested that within a year the British mission in Basra would be substantially reduced from the current level of 4,000 troops.

Senior officers, including generals, have debated significantly expanding the Afghanistan force by early next summer in order to end the Taliban insurgency and to secure towns that have already been captured. They are also concerned about the long-term commitment of the Dutch force in the area [and the Canadians? - MC] and want to make up for loss of face to the Americans over failures in Basra.

It has been suggested that a "division light" consisting of two combat brigades would be used to secure Helmand and perhaps other lawless provinces to allow reconstruction to take place.

Having to fight on just one front would also free up the considerable logistics chain
currently needed to supply the Iraq front.

Mr Browne said: "We are, I think, being stretched by the fact we have two medium-sized operations going on. I don't make any bones about that."

A Whitehall source said that ministers were not aware of any military advice "right now" saying force levels in Afghanistan needed to be increased. "But if in the future that happens and that's what the military say they need we have never previously said they are not going to be given it," the source said. "We have to go with what they say they need."

In order to increase the force size a significant number of helicopters will be needed as the current shortage is costing British lives. Mr Browne ordered an emergency summit last week to discuss getting more helicopters out to Afghanistan [emphasis added--more on Brit helicopters in Afstan here].

He accepted that the military was being stretched by operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan after claims by a retired Army commander that there were "far too few" troops on the ground in Helmand Province.

But he said the force in Afghanistan was capable of doing the job asked of it and he could increase troop numbers if military commanders requested.

British forces in Afghanistan have suffered 17 casualties in a bloody period since the start of June...

Meanwhile Canadians, Brits and Afghans are conducting a major operation west of Kandahar city: Operation "Ruby Januby". This is interesting:

...
Playing a small but critical role in the mission were half a dozen U.S. soldiers who are seen as the thin edge of a U.S. army wedge on its way here. A battalion of American soldiers -- between 700 and 1,000 -- are scheduled to join Canadians in Kandahar province within six months, or sooner [emphasis added].

"The intent was for them to get used to operations in Kandahar and there is some consideration towards the use of American forces within the province," said [Canadian Major Fraser] Auld. "This is just one of the methods we begin to gather information on their use, whether it be in Maywand or elsewhere in the province."..

If the Brits really do up their strength very significantly, it certainly does suggest that the some 2,000 CF personnel at Kandahar also need significant reinforcement, something the CF are in no position to provide and which the government would not approve in any case. Remember that the UK's population is just twice Canada's; the Senate Committee on National Security and Defence and Sen. Colin Kenny sure have a point.