This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8165263.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Defence minister 'busting a gut' | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth says he is "busting a gut" to get more helicopters out to Afghanistan. | Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth says he is "busting a gut" to get more helicopters out to Afghanistan. |
| But Mr Ainsworth said it was not possible for "every single commander" to have "every single vehicle". | But Mr Ainsworth said it was not possible for "every single commander" to have "every single vehicle". |
| "It can't be done, but we've got to reach for that," he said. He denied there were any "contradictions" in ministers' viewpoints on the issue. | "It can't be done, but we've got to reach for that," he said. He denied there were any "contradictions" in ministers' viewpoints on the issue. |
| Yesterday, Gordon Brown reasserted the UK had enough helicopters for an offensive in Helmand province. | Yesterday, Gordon Brown reasserted the UK had enough helicopters for an offensive in Helmand province. |
| Nineteen soldiers have died in Afghanistan this month. | Nineteen soldiers have died in Afghanistan this month. |
| UK forces are currently engaged in a major offensive - known as Operation Panther's Claw - against insurgent strongholds in Helmand. | UK forces are currently engaged in a major offensive - known as Operation Panther's Claw - against insurgent strongholds in Helmand. |
| Complicated machines | Complicated machines |
| Speaking during a visit to HMS Monmouth, which is currently docked in Cardiff Bay, Mr Ainsworth said: "Our military commanders don't plan operations and didn't plan Panther's Claw not knowing exactly what they've got in terms of capability. | Speaking during a visit to HMS Monmouth, which is currently docked in Cardiff Bay, Mr Ainsworth said: "Our military commanders don't plan operations and didn't plan Panther's Claw not knowing exactly what they've got in terms of capability. |
| "They knew how many helicopters were available for that operation." | "They knew how many helicopters were available for that operation." |
| I'm worried there's an impression these sacrifices are being made at a time when we are not making progress Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth | |
| "We are busting a gut to get more helicopters out there," he added. "There are eight Chinooks waiting to go out there. | "We are busting a gut to get more helicopters out there," he added. "There are eight Chinooks waiting to go out there. |
| "The Merlin fleet will be out there by December. I was all over it again myself yesterday to make sure it can't be done quicker." | "The Merlin fleet will be out there by December. I was all over it again myself yesterday to make sure it can't be done quicker." |
| Mr Ainsworth said helicopters were not like family cars, which needed a service once a year. | Mr Ainsworth said helicopters were not like family cars, which needed a service once a year. |
| "There are people who think if we've got 100 helicopters we can put them in Afghanistan," he said. | "There are people who think if we've got 100 helicopters we can put them in Afghanistan," he said. |
| "They are not Ford Mondeos. They are operating in just about the worst environment in the world with dust, heat and height. | "They are not Ford Mondeos. They are operating in just about the worst environment in the world with dust, heat and height. |
| "They break and they're breaking all the time. Some are fixed in theatre and some come back here." | "They break and they're breaking all the time. Some are fixed in theatre and some come back here." |
| His comments come a day after Foreign Office minister Lord Malloch-Brown fuelled the on-going political row over resources for the Afghan operation. | |
| Lord Malloch-Brown told a newspaper that "we definitely don't have enough helicopters". | |
| He later clarified his comments, saying "everybody on the army and political side, from the prime minister down, agrees that there are enough helicopters for immediate operational needs". | |
| He said had been trying to make the point that the nature of modern warfare meant there was a shortage of helicopters for military and peacekeeping operations around the world. | |
| Conservative leader David Cameron said the prime minister had also been "contradicted" over helicopter numbers by army chiefs and commanders serving on the ground in Afghanistan. | |
| 'Huge progress' | |
| Mr Ainsworth went on to say the increasing toll of British casualties in Afghanistan was not in vain. | |
| He said: "I'm worried there's an impression we are not moving forward and these sacrifices are being made at a time when we are not making progress. | |
| "We've made huge progress, there's real momentum in Afghanistan." | |
| Hitting back at criticism about the level of other equipment for troops, the defence secretary said: "There's a misconception we can keep people safe with bigger, better, more armoured vehicles. | |
| "We already have huge, massively-armoured trucks they feel totally confident with, but they have their limitations. | |
| "With the counter-insurgency operation they've got to get out of the trucks and meet people." |