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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Clegg queries Afghanistan tactics | Clegg queries Afghanistan tactics |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| The Liberal Democrat leader has questioned whether the government has the political will to see through the UK's military campaign in Afghanistan. | The Liberal Democrat leader has questioned whether the government has the political will to see through the UK's military campaign in Afghanistan. |
| While Nick Clegg insists he supports the mission's aims, he says he has recently begun to query whether "we're going about things in the right way". | While Nick Clegg insists he supports the mission's aims, he says he has recently begun to query whether "we're going about things in the right way". |
| Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he said the current situation was a "halfway house that lets our troops down". | Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he said the current situation was a "halfway house that lets our troops down". |
| Seven UK service personnel have been killed in Afghanistan in the past week. | Seven UK service personnel have been killed in Afghanistan in the past week. |
| Mr Clegg said he had been keen to maintain the cross-party consensus on Afghanistan, formed after the 11 September attacks. | Mr Clegg said he had been keen to maintain the cross-party consensus on Afghanistan, formed after the 11 September attacks. |
| "But we need to ask whether the government has the will, strategy or tactics to do the job properly," he said. | "But we need to ask whether the government has the will, strategy or tactics to do the job properly," he said. |
| 'Bailed out' | 'Bailed out' |
| He said two recent victims - Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe and Trooper Joshua Hammond - were killed while travelling in a vehicle "unable to withstand a roadside bomb". | He said two recent victims - Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe and Trooper Joshua Hammond - were killed while travelling in a vehicle "unable to withstand a roadside bomb". |
| "If you send people to war you must supply the resources they need, or you should not send them at all," he said. | "If you send people to war you must supply the resources they need, or you should not send them at all," he said. |
| We must think again - not about pulling out, but about doing things differently Nick Clegg | We must think again - not about pulling out, but about doing things differently Nick Clegg |
| "Otherwise you are betraying that fundamental covenant between a nation and its armed forces." | "Otherwise you are betraying that fundamental covenant between a nation and its armed forces." |
| He questioned the level of UK troop deployment, saying Britain had been "bailed out" by the US, which had sent its own forces into Helmand Province. | He questioned the level of UK troop deployment, saying Britain had been "bailed out" by the US, which had sent its own forces into Helmand Province. |
| Mr Clegg said a "political strategy" was needed to run alongside the military action. | Mr Clegg said a "political strategy" was needed to run alongside the military action. |
| "Britain's lukewarm support for European co-operation in defence and security planning has contributed to the fragmented nature of operations," he said. | "Britain's lukewarm support for European co-operation in defence and security planning has contributed to the fragmented nature of operations," he said. |
| "Our soldiers' lives are being put at risk because our politicians won't get their act together." | "Our soldiers' lives are being put at risk because our politicians won't get their act together." |
| He called for "a single individual or institution with a strong mandate" to co-ordinate all the international players. | He called for "a single individual or institution with a strong mandate" to co-ordinate all the international players. |
| 'Last chance' | 'Last chance' |
| He also said progress was being stunted by corruption. | He also said progress was being stunted by corruption. |
| "If the Taliban are to be defeated, the Afghan people need to learn to trust state institutions - a huge challenge in a country that never had effective central government," he said. | "If the Taliban are to be defeated, the Afghan people need to learn to trust state institutions - a huge challenge in a country that never had effective central government," he said. |
| "Rooting out corruption at all levels must be given a higher priority." | "Rooting out corruption at all levels must be given a higher priority." |
| "We must think again - not about pulling out, but about doing things differently," he concluded. | "We must think again - not about pulling out, but about doing things differently," he concluded. |
| "It is time to put real political will behind a new strategy, and a new commitment to Afghanistan. It is our last chance before it is too late. | "It is time to put real political will behind a new strategy, and a new commitment to Afghanistan. It is our last chance before it is too late. |
| The latest death on Tuesday takes the number of soldiers to die in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion to 176. | The latest death on Tuesday takes the number of soldiers to die in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion to 176. |
| On Wednesday, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth defended the government's strategy in the country and warned more lives would be lost. | On Wednesday, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth defended the government's strategy in the country and warned more lives would be lost. |