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'Soldiers let down' says mother | 'Soldiers let down' says mother |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The mother of the 200th British soldier killed in Afghanistan has accused politicians of leaving troops "short-changed". | The mother of the 200th British soldier killed in Afghanistan has accused politicians of leaving troops "short-changed". |
Hazel Hunt's son, Richard, 21, of the 2nd Battalion the Royal Welsh, died on Saturday after being injured on patrol. | Hazel Hunt's son, Richard, 21, of the 2nd Battalion the Royal Welsh, died on Saturday after being injured on patrol. |
She said troops needed more and better equipment and called Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth "stupid and arrogant". | She said troops needed more and better equipment and called Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth "stupid and arrogant". |
Mr Ainsworth has predicted UK forces could hand over many frontline duties to Afghan troops in about a year. | Mr Ainsworth has predicted UK forces could hand over many frontline duties to Afghan troops in about a year. |
General Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the army, has also called for more equipment to counter the threat of roadside bombs. | General Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the army, has also called for more equipment to counter the threat of roadside bombs. |
Bob Ainsworth is being utterly delusional - for centuries people have been invading and fighting in Afghanistan... we have been kicked out twice and the Russians couldn't manage it Hazel Hunt, Pte Richard Hunt's mother | |
Gen Dannatt, who stands down later this month, also predicted that British troops could be on the ground in Afghanistan for five years. | Gen Dannatt, who stands down later this month, also predicted that British troops could be on the ground in Afghanistan for five years. |
Mrs Hunt's attack came as the Ministry of Defence prepared to name three soldiers killed in an explosion while on patrol in Afghanistan. | Mrs Hunt's attack came as the Ministry of Defence prepared to name three soldiers killed in an explosion while on patrol in Afghanistan. |
Mrs Hunt, 49, a nurse, from Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, told the Daily Mail that Mr Ainsworth should spend time on the front line to understand how desperate troops were for more men and equipment. | Mrs Hunt, 49, a nurse, from Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, told the Daily Mail that Mr Ainsworth should spend time on the front line to understand how desperate troops were for more men and equipment. |
She said: "He hasn't got a clue. It makes me very angry when our top military commanders demand extra resources but nothing is forthcoming. | She said: "He hasn't got a clue. It makes me very angry when our top military commanders demand extra resources but nothing is forthcoming. |
"The army has been short-changed and the troops are suffering because of it. | "The army has been short-changed and the troops are suffering because of it. |
'Losing our boys' | 'Losing our boys' |
"But the politicians are not listening to the troops on the ground. | "But the politicians are not listening to the troops on the ground. |
"They've got to find more resources, better equipment and make sure there's enough of it." | "They've got to find more resources, better equipment and make sure there's enough of it." |
Later, speaking to BBC Wales, she added: "The last 20 casualties were all because of roadside bombs. You can put more armour on their machines but they [the Taliban] are just making bigger bombs. | |
"They've got to find a different way so we stop losing our boys." | "They've got to find a different way so we stop losing our boys." |
She compared to the situation in Afghanistan to World War I. | |
She added: "Politicians should listen to the military who know what they're capable of and what they need, but if they say what they need it's pooh-poohed. That makes me angry." | She added: "Politicians should listen to the military who know what they're capable of and what they need, but if they say what they need it's pooh-poohed. That makes me angry." |
Pte Hunt, a farmer's son, was born in Pembrokeshire and grew up in Abergavenny. He had been part of a vehicle patrol from A Company the 2nd Battalion the Royal Welsh when it was hit by an improvised explosive device near Musa Qa'la. | |
Mrs Hunt said her son had always wanted a career as a soldier. | |
"Even as little boy he was always playing soldiers," she said. "He was so proud to be in the 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh. | |
"I call him my brave, beautiful boy which he would be highly embarrassed at. | |
"He loved life, be loved having a good time and I suppose that philosophy is you are here - enjoy it while you can - and he did." | |
Pte Hunt died in a Birmingham hospital on Saturday, two days after his vehicle patrol had been hit by an explosion in Helmand Province. | |
Mrs Hunt said: "We did get that chance to be there with him, to talk to him, kiss him and tell him that we loved him and how proud we were of him. | |
"A lot of poor parents don't get that chance." | |
Mrs Hunt said: "Bob Ainsworth is being utterly delusional. For centuries people have been invading and fighting in Afghanistan. We have been kicked out twice and the Russians couldn't manage it. | Mrs Hunt said: "Bob Ainsworth is being utterly delusional. For centuries people have been invading and fighting in Afghanistan. We have been kicked out twice and the Russians couldn't manage it. |
"Unless Nato is completely co-ordinated, it is going to happen again. There needs to be a clear plan. Without one our soldiers will carry on dying. | "Unless Nato is completely co-ordinated, it is going to happen again. There needs to be a clear plan. Without one our soldiers will carry on dying. |
"Bob Ainsworth has made some very silly comments in the past few days and he has only been in the job for five minutes. I think he is speaking too soon and out of turn. He has been stupid and arrogant." | "Bob Ainsworth has made some very silly comments in the past few days and he has only been in the job for five minutes. I think he is speaking too soon and out of turn. He has been stupid and arrogant." |
Among the resources being demanded by commanders in the field are increased numbers of unmanned aerial drones which can be used to spot improvised explosive devices (IEDs). | Among the resources being demanded by commanders in the field are increased numbers of unmanned aerial drones which can be used to spot improvised explosive devices (IEDs). |
The Ministry of Defence said it would not be responding to concerns raised by Mrs Hunt but its position on the various issues was a matter of record. | The Ministry of Defence said it would not be responding to concerns raised by Mrs Hunt but its position on the various issues was a matter of record. |