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Darling defends Afghan response Darling defends Afghan response
(about 1 hour later)
Alistair Darling has insisted that the Treasury has never turned down requests from army commanders for more troops or equipment in Afghanistan.Alistair Darling has insisted that the Treasury has never turned down requests from army commanders for more troops or equipment in Afghanistan.
The Head of the Army, Sir Richard Dannatt, has drawn up a "shopping list" for ministers of resources he says are required for the Afghan mission.The Head of the Army, Sir Richard Dannatt, has drawn up a "shopping list" for ministers of resources he says are required for the Afghan mission.
His call for more "boots on the ground" in Afghanistan has been interpreted as a veiled criticism of ministers.His call for more "boots on the ground" in Afghanistan has been interpreted as a veiled criticism of ministers.
But the chancellor said he had funded all requests from the military.But the chancellor said he had funded all requests from the military.
'Sufficient troops''Sufficient troops'
"The Army has said this is what we want in terms of troops and equipment and we have provided that and financed it," Mr Darling told the Tribune newspaper."The Army has said this is what we want in terms of troops and equipment and we have provided that and financed it," Mr Darling told the Tribune newspaper.
"I am very clear that if you ask troops to go and do something especially in the face of acute danger, somewhere like Afghanistan, you have to make sure there are sufficient troops and those troops are sufficiently equipped to do what is asked of them.""I am very clear that if you ask troops to go and do something especially in the face of acute danger, somewhere like Afghanistan, you have to make sure there are sufficient troops and those troops are sufficiently equipped to do what is asked of them."
The rising casualty rate in Afghanistan, in which 17 service personnel have been killed in the past month, has fuelled a political row over army budgets and resources. The rising casualty rate in Afghanistan, where 18 UK service personnel have been killed this month, has fuelled a political row over army budgets and resources.
The Lib Dems have accused ministers of vetoing a request for 2,000 extra troops earlier this year while the Conservatives say the failure to supply troops with enough helicopters has accentuated casualty levels.The Lib Dems have accused ministers of vetoing a request for 2,000 extra troops earlier this year while the Conservatives say the failure to supply troops with enough helicopters has accentuated casualty levels.
The BBC's political correspondent Jo Coburn said Mr Darling had decided to speak out after reports of tensions between senior ministers and army officers.The BBC's political correspondent Jo Coburn said Mr Darling had decided to speak out after reports of tensions between senior ministers and army officers.
TensionsTensions
These tensions were heightened on Tuesday when ex-Labour minister Lord Foulkes said recent comments by Sir Richard Dannatt and Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Jock Stirrup about resources "threaten to undermine our effort in Afghanistan and give succour to the enemy".These tensions were heightened on Tuesday when ex-Labour minister Lord Foulkes said recent comments by Sir Richard Dannatt and Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Jock Stirrup about resources "threaten to undermine our effort in Afghanistan and give succour to the enemy".
He suggested to peers that the two should be reminded of the "importance of loyalty particularly when we are engaged in a very difficult war where victory is essential for the future safety of this country".He suggested to peers that the two should be reminded of the "importance of loyalty particularly when we are engaged in a very difficult war where victory is essential for the future safety of this country".
Sir Richard has said some of his comments about extra resources needed in Afghanistan had been misrepresented and he was involved in "an ongoing dialogue" with No 10 over the issue.Sir Richard has said some of his comments about extra resources needed in Afghanistan had been misrepresented and he was involved in "an ongoing dialogue" with No 10 over the issue.
Gordon Brown has said troop levels in Afghanistan will be reviewed after next month's presidential elections while stressing there are enough troops there to do the job.Gordon Brown has said troop levels in Afghanistan will be reviewed after next month's presidential elections while stressing there are enough troops there to do the job.
He has insisted the armed forces are better equipped than ever while pointing out that the UK is fighting the Taliban as part of a 40-nation Nato coalition.He has insisted the armed forces are better equipped than ever while pointing out that the UK is fighting the Taliban as part of a 40-nation Nato coalition.