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| Britons call for troop withdrawal | Britons call for troop withdrawal |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| More than two-thirds of Britons think UK troops should leave Afghanistan within a year, a BBC poll has found. | More than two-thirds of Britons think UK troops should leave Afghanistan within a year, a BBC poll has found. |
| Of 1,013 people polled, 68% said troops should withdraw within 12 months, with 59% of men agreeing and 75% of women. | Of 1,013 people polled, 68% said troops should withdraw within 12 months, with 59% of men agreeing and 75% of women. |
| But Farid Popal, the Afghan Embassy's political affairs secretary, said it was "unrealistic" to expect the force of 8,000 to "just abandon" the country. | But Farid Popal, the Afghan Embassy's political affairs secretary, said it was "unrealistic" to expect the force of 8,000 to "just abandon" the country. |
| And on Tuesday Defence Secretary John Hutton said UK forces in Afghanistan were crucial to British security. | And on Tuesday Defence Secretary John Hutton said UK forces in Afghanistan were crucial to British security. |
| 'Devastating consequences' | 'Devastating consequences' |
| The ICM poll was commissioned to coincide with a BBC round-table discussion on the status of Afghanistan. | The ICM poll was commissioned to coincide with a BBC round-table discussion on the status of Afghanistan. |
| The age-group most opposed to the war were 18 to 24-year-olds, 75% of whom said they wanted troops pulled out. | The age-group most opposed to the war were 18 to 24-year-olds, 75% of whom said they wanted troops pulled out. |
| Mr Popal told the BBC: "While your poll suggests that troops should come home, think about the devastation that it will bring to the local Afghans and think about the consequences of security for the rest of the international community. | Mr Popal told the BBC: "While your poll suggests that troops should come home, think about the devastation that it will bring to the local Afghans and think about the consequences of security for the rest of the international community. |
| He added: "It is unrealistic to think that the 8,000-strong British military will just abandon Helmand province in less than a year's time." | He added: "It is unrealistic to think that the 8,000-strong British military will just abandon Helmand province in less than a year's time." |
| It was done at the bidding of the Americans... I just think we should pull out Simon Jenkins, columnist Should troops come home? class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5646">Send us your comments | |
| Also at the discussion, to be broadcast by BBC Radio 4, was Zarghona Rassa, chair of the British Afghan Women's Society. | Also at the discussion, to be broadcast by BBC Radio 4, was Zarghona Rassa, chair of the British Afghan Women's Society. |
| She told the BBC her "heart goes to people from both sides that are killed in this war", but she also implored people to take a broader perspective on the conflict. | She told the BBC her "heart goes to people from both sides that are killed in this war", but she also implored people to take a broader perspective on the conflict. |
| Ms Rassa said: "Imagine... if they are out of Afghanistan, would it solve the problem of British society or would it solve the problem of international terrorism? | Ms Rassa said: "Imagine... if they are out of Afghanistan, would it solve the problem of British society or would it solve the problem of international terrorism? |
| "So we should not look narrowly only to one side: we should think about all other aspects of this war." | "So we should not look narrowly only to one side: we should think about all other aspects of this war." |
| But another participant, columnist Simon Jenkins, said the government should take notice of the survey. | But another participant, columnist Simon Jenkins, said the government should take notice of the survey. |
| He told the BBC: "I think the government should always pay attention to public opinion, particularly in matters of war and peace. It has never received a popular mandate for this war in any realistic sense. | He told the BBC: "I think the government should always pay attention to public opinion, particularly in matters of war and peace. It has never received a popular mandate for this war in any realistic sense. |
| I am absolutely clear that our commitment to Afghanistan is first and foremost about the UK's national security Defence Secretary John Hutton | I am absolutely clear that our commitment to Afghanistan is first and foremost about the UK's national security Defence Secretary John Hutton |
| "It was done at the bidding of the Americans - there's a new American president we might be able to capture something from that but he's equally in favour of it. I just think we should pull out." | "It was done at the bidding of the Americans - there's a new American president we might be able to capture something from that but he's equally in favour of it. I just think we should pull out." |
| The defence secretary chose the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I to reiterate his reasons for maintaining British troops in Afghanistan. | The defence secretary chose the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I to reiterate his reasons for maintaining British troops in Afghanistan. |
| He said: "I am absolutely clear that our commitment to Afghanistan is first and foremost about the UK's national security. | He said: "I am absolutely clear that our commitment to Afghanistan is first and foremost about the UK's national security. |
| "Terrorism poses a direct threat to the security of the British people. So, let us not for one moment think that it does not threaten our way of life, our values of democracy and human rights." | "Terrorism poses a direct threat to the security of the British people. So, let us not for one moment think that it does not threaten our way of life, our values of democracy and human rights." |
| He stressed that 2008 had been a tough year for coalition forces and that the coming 12 months were likely to be equally as tough, testing the resolve of the international community. | He stressed that 2008 had been a tough year for coalition forces and that the coming 12 months were likely to be equally as tough, testing the resolve of the international community. |