“The MoD must do more or else the whole mission could be undermined.”
What else can the MoD do? Its a lack of resources, committment and people and that is the Government’s problem not the MoD. Blaming the MoD is very short signed. The MoD has already signed off nearly a £1bn in UOR (urgent operational requirements) but we need to answer two difficult questions:
1) A lack of focus, we need to throw everything at Afghanistan to win because we cant rely many others (bar the Canadians and the Dutch). The government spends time chatting about saving Africa but lets focus on ONE thing at a time. Either we decide to win in Afghanistan or we go home now.
2) Proper resource levels. The levels of defence expenditure for a campaign in two theatres is too low to sustain the military. Either we invest properly in UORs, people, R&D and future kit or quit playing at a minor power projection country. Because this is how countries lose wars.
As for helicopters. We knew THREE YEARS ago that we needed more helicopters. The additional Chinooks still need their mission computers rebuilt (a problem that could have been resolved years ago) and the Merlins will take another 6 months to change to UK standerds. We could have leased pilots and platforms if we really wanted (lack of resources and committment blocked that option). UK forces were close to being overun (just type UK army afghanistan into youtube) last year and the government did nothing.
If we really want to win in Afghanistan we need to make it a priority otherwise we have already lost because the Labour government is playing at being an upper range power with low level suport.
NATO Allies Must Commit More Troops to Afghanistan Says Defence Committee
(Source: House of Commons Defence Committee; issued July 18, 2007)
“We remain deeply concerned that the reluctance of some NATO countries to provide troops for the ISAF mission in Afghanistan is undermining NATO’s credibility and also ISAF operations” says the House of Commons Defence Committee in a report published today (Thirteenth Report of Session 2006–07, UK operations in Afghanistan, HC 408).
Identified by General David Richards as one of his biggest concerns during his time as commander of the International Security Assistance Force, too few troops on the ground in support ISAF operations against the Taliban in Southern Afghanistan risk undermining the effectiveness of the mission. The Committee calls on the Ministry of Defence to explain how it will go about persuading other NATO countries to address the shortage of troops in Afghanistan.
While the Committee welcome the additional commitment of helicopters since the initial deployment in 2006, the MPs recommend that the MoD make even greater efforts to increase the provision of appropriate helicopters to UK Forces and sufficient trained air and ground crew. UK helicopter operations in Afghanistan are not sustainable at the present intensity.
Afghanistan is the largest producer of illegal opium in the world and, according to the UN, the problem is growing. The Committee says that the coalition’s strategy lacks clarity and coherence. It fears that uncertainty among Afghans about ISAF’s role in poppy eradication puts UK forces at risk.
Commenting on the report, Committee Chairman Rt Hon James Arbuthnot MP said:
“The challenges facing UK forces in Afghanistan remain huge. The security situation in the South of the country is fragile to say the least and the cultivation of poppy is worse than ever. It is clear that an international presence will be needed there beyond 2009. If that commitment is to succeed, its size and strength must be very great, and in our view considerably greater than the international community is at present willing to acknowledge, let alone to make.
“Our Service personnel, not least our helicopter air and ground crews, are doing a great job in extremely demanding conditions. But they are working to the limit and that cannot go on forever. The MoD must do more or else the whole mission could be undermined.”
MOD Responds to the House of Common’s Defence Committee (HCDC) Report on UK Operations in Afghanistan
(Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued July 18, 2007)
Defence Secretary Des Browne responded, today, to the House of Common’s Defence Committee report on UK Operations in Afghanistan. Mr Browne said:
“I welcome the publication of the HCDC report into UK operations in Afghanistan. The report is balanced and recognises that we are performing well against a challenging background and I join the Committee in paying tribute to the outstanding work done by service and civilian personnel in theatre. I also particularly welcome their recognition of the lengths that UK forces go to in order to minimise civilian casualties. I concur with their assessment that much needed reconstruction in Helmand is underway but that there is more to do.
“I agree with the Committee’s assessment that NATO nations should do more to meet the shortfalls in requirements. The UK continues to lobby other nations to provide more in terms of military and non-military resources.
“I acknowledge that our helicopters fleet is working hard and we keep the situation under review. We have already increased helicopter flying hours in theatre and are deploying additional support, in the form of Sea Kings, in the autumn. In the medium term, we are increasing the number of helicopters available including new Merlins and the conversion of existing Chinooks.”
