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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Helmand troops 'lacking capacity' | Helmand troops 'lacking capacity' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thousands of US troops have been sent to Helmand province because British forces "lacked capacity", the UK's top commander in Afghanistan has said. | |
| General Jim Dutton told the BBC there had been huge areas of southern Afghanistan with no military presence. | General Jim Dutton told the BBC there had been huge areas of southern Afghanistan with no military presence. |
| But Gen Dutton said that was set to change, with thousands of American forces being sent to the south. | But Gen Dutton said that was set to change, with thousands of American forces being sent to the south. |
| In February, US President Barack Obama authorised the deployment of up to 17,000 extra troops to Afghanistan. | In February, US President Barack Obama authorised the deployment of up to 17,000 extra troops to Afghanistan. |
| Gen Dutton, deputy commander of Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Afghanistan, said US troops fighting alongside the British would have to end the "stalemate" in the south of the country. | Gen Dutton, deputy commander of Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Afghanistan, said US troops fighting alongside the British would have to end the "stalemate" in the south of the country. |
| Move welcomed | Move welcomed |
| Helmand has seen an increase in insurgency and has the highest rate of attacks on Nato-led forces anywhere in Afghanistan. | Helmand has seen an increase in insurgency and has the highest rate of attacks on Nato-led forces anywhere in Afghanistan. |
| The BBC's Martin Patience in the Afghan capital Kabul says Gen Dutton's comments may add to criticism that British forces have been overstretched and under-resourced. | The BBC's Martin Patience in the Afghan capital Kabul says Gen Dutton's comments may add to criticism that British forces have been overstretched and under-resourced. |
| This is denied by the Ministry of Defence but military officials admit that progress has been limited. | This is denied by the Ministry of Defence but military officials admit that progress has been limited. |
| Mr Obama said the additional soldiers had been due to go to Iraq but were being redirected to "meet urgent security needs". | Mr Obama said the additional soldiers had been due to go to Iraq but were being redirected to "meet urgent security needs". |
| The US deployment comprises 8,000 marines and 4,000 army soldiers, plus 5,000 support staff, targeted in southern Afghanistan. | The US deployment comprises 8,000 marines and 4,000 army soldiers, plus 5,000 support staff, targeted in southern Afghanistan. |
| The move was welcomed by both UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Afghan President Hamid Karzai. | The move was welcomed by both UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Afghan President Hamid Karzai. |