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Afghan aims 'realistic' - Brown Afghan aims 'realistic' - Brown
(40 minutes later)
Gordon Brown has said Britain and its allies' aims in Afghanistan were "realistic and achievable" in a speech defending their strategy. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the aims of the mission in Afghanistan are "realistic and achievable" in a speech defending the strategy.
The PM said he knew he was asking "a great deal" of British troops. He said he knew he was asking "a great deal" of British troops, more than 50 of whom had been killed this summer.
But he said he believed they were doing the "right thing" by Britain and for the people of Afghanistan.But he said he believed they were doing the "right thing" by Britain and for the people of Afghanistan.
It comes after ministerial aide Eric Joyce quit - saying UK casualties could no longer be justified by saying the war prevented terrorism at home. On Thursday ministerial aide Eric Joyce quit, questioning the government's arguments for keeping troops there.
In a long and detailed assessment of Britain's strategy at the Institute of Strategic Studies, followed by a Q&A, Mr Brown attempted to set out what he believes are the measures of success for Britain in Afghanistan. And on Friday the Ministry of Defence named Lance Corporal Richard Brandon as the soldier killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan on Thursday.
The total number of British personnel killed in the country since 2001 is 212.
Explosive devicesExplosive devices
He said Taliban tactics had changed from a head on military conflict to effectively, guerrilla warfare using explosive devices - 1,000 of which had been dismantled this summer. In a long and detailed assessment of Britain's strategy at the International Institute of Strategic Studies, Mr Brown attempted to set out what he believes are the measures of success for Britain in Afghanistan.
He said Taliban tactics had changed from a head-on military conflict to, effectively, guerrilla warfare using explosive devices - 1,000 of which had been dismantled this summer.
"The record of success of our forces in dismantling these explosive devices has been very high indeed," he said."The record of success of our forces in dismantling these explosive devices has been very high indeed," he said.
It remains my judgement that a safer Britain requires a safer Afghanistan Gordon Brown Aide quits over Afghan strategy href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8237122.stm">Resignation reaction class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8237642.stm">Analysis: New emphasis on exit It remains my judgement that a safer Britain requires a safer Afghanistan Gordon Brown Aide quits over Afghan strategy Analysis: New emphasis on exit class="" href="either url here">Poll tracker: Changing attitudes
Other measures of success included increasing Afghan forces and strong leadership in Afghan provinces as well as more economic progress, to give people a stake in the country, other than in heroin production. Other measures of success would be increasing Afghan forces and strong leadership in Afghan provinces as well as more economic progress, to give people a stake in the country, other than in heroin production.
Britain was committed to training up more Afghan forces, moving from a mentoring to partnering them, he said.Britain was committed to training up more Afghan forces, moving from a mentoring to partnering them, he said.
He was careful not to commit to a timetable for the withdrawal of British troops, but said: "The more the Afghans can take responsibility in the short term the less our coalition forces will be needed in the long term."He was careful not to commit to a timetable for the withdrawal of British troops, but said: "The more the Afghans can take responsibility in the short term the less our coalition forces will be needed in the long term."
"These are objectives that are clear and justified and also realistic and achievable. It remains my judgement that a safer Britain requires a safer Afghanistan.""These are objectives that are clear and justified and also realistic and achievable. It remains my judgement that a safer Britain requires a safer Afghanistan."
'Heartbreaking'
Downing Street has been keen to stress that the speech was not a response to Eric Joyce's resignation and had been planned for some time.Downing Street has been keen to stress that the speech was not a response to Eric Joyce's resignation and had been planned for some time.
'Same threat' But Mr Brown said he wanted to tackle "head on" some of the criticisms of the government's strategy insisting that British troops are part of an international effort involving over 40 countries and that their presence in Afghanistan reduced the threat of terrorism on Britain's streets.
But Mr Brown said he wanted to tackle "head on" some of the criticisms of the government's strategy insisting that British troops are part of an international effort and that their presence in Afghanistan reduced the threat of terrorism on Britain's streets.
UK AND US OPINION ON WAR In UK, 58% believe the war is not winnable, 31% disagree. ComRes/Independent. July 09In US, 42% think America is winning the war, 36% think it is losing. ABC News/Washington Post. Aug 0954 British troops killed in 2009 so far, compared with 47 in 2008172 US troops killed in 2009 so far, compared with 155 in 2008UK AND US OPINION ON WAR In UK, 58% believe the war is not winnable, 31% disagree. ComRes/Independent. July 09In US, 42% think America is winning the war, 36% think it is losing. ABC News/Washington Post. Aug 0954 British troops killed in 2009 so far, compared with 47 in 2008172 US troops killed in 2009 so far, compared with 155 in 2008
He stressed that the mission involved over 40 countries all of whom faced the same threat.
And he said there was "nothing more heartbreaking" than meeting the families of those killed, or those who had been seriously injured, in action.And he said there was "nothing more heartbreaking" than meeting the families of those killed, or those who had been seriously injured, in action.
But he added: "When I meet young people who have suffered at the hands of the Taliban and who are in hospital and when I meet the families of those people who have been bereaved, I have to keep asking myself: 'Are we taking the right decisions for them and for the conduct of the action in Afghanistan?' He added: "When I meet young people who have suffered at the hands of the Taliban and who are in hospital and when I meet the families of those people who have been bereaved, I have to keep asking myself: 'Are we taking the right decisions for them and for the conduct of the action in Afghanistan?'
"Are we doing what is right both by our forces and by the population of this country? And every time I ask myself these questions, my answer is yes , we are taking the right action, the action that is necessary, to safeguard both our country and promote security in the world.""Are we doing what is right both by our forces and by the population of this country? And every time I ask myself these questions, my answer is yes , we are taking the right action, the action that is necessary, to safeguard both our country and promote security in the world."
The resignation of a junior ministerial aide would matter little if it weren't for the fact that Eric Joyce is a former army officer Nick RobinsonBBC political editor class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2009/09/pm_prepares_for_the_afghanistan_argument.html">Read Nick's blog in full 'Not enough'
On Thursday the Ministry of Defence announced the deaths of two more soldiers in Afghanistan, taking total number of service personnel killed to 212, since operations began in 2001. Earlier Mr Joyce told ITV News: "We have to be honest about what our commitment is.
In his resignation letter Mr Joyce said: "I do not think the public will accept for much longer that our losses can be justified by simply referring to the risk of greater terrorism on our streets. "It's very high, and I don't think we can simply say the simple statement that we're preventing terrorism back in the UK.
"Nor do I think we can continue with the present level of uncertainty about the future of our deployment in Afghanistan." "In many ways that's true but it's not enough of an explanation. People really need to know what would happen if we weren't there - would the Americans simply fill the gap?"
'Disquiet'
There are more than 9,000 UK troops in Afghanistan and opposition parties have been questioning whether they are sufficiently equipped for the operation.There are more than 9,000 UK troops in Afghanistan and opposition parties have been questioning whether they are sufficiently equipped for the operation.
Mr Brown said in his speech that military spending is rising in excess of the increase in troop numbers and troops' pay had increased over that of other public servants, because of the "debt" the country owed them.Mr Brown said in his speech that military spending is rising in excess of the increase in troop numbers and troops' pay had increased over that of other public servants, because of the "debt" the country owed them.
He said it was about £180,000 per year to support each soldier fighting in 2006 but was now over twice that, £390,000 for each soldier.He said it was about £180,000 per year to support each soldier fighting in 2006 but was now over twice that, £390,000 for each soldier.
And addressing complaints that sufficient equipment - including helicopters - was not being sent to Afghanistan, he said the government was committed to giving its commanders more options.
But he added, the counter insurgency must be "won on the ground and not in the air".
The Conservatives said the government was failing to put the case for the UK's continued involvement in Afghanistan. Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said there was a "great deal of disquiet" on Labour benches.The Conservatives said the government was failing to put the case for the UK's continued involvement in Afghanistan. Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said there was a "great deal of disquiet" on Labour benches.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said: "Eric Joyce confirms what I have been saying for a long time, our approach in Afghanistan is over-ambitious and under-resourced."Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said: "Eric Joyce confirms what I have been saying for a long time, our approach in Afghanistan is over-ambitious and under-resourced."