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Minister defends UK forces' kit Minister defends UK forces' kit
(10 minutes later)
The UK government has denied troops in Afghanistan are not properly equipped after it emerged a British officer criticised supplies before his death.The UK government has denied troops in Afghanistan are not properly equipped after it emerged a British officer criticised supplies before his death.
Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe, 39, warned of a helicopter shortage in a memo before he died in a roadside bombing.Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe, 39, warned of a helicopter shortage in a memo before he died in a roadside bombing.
In response, forces minister Bill Rammell said "no military chief" and "no minister" could guarantee against the loss of life.In response, forces minister Bill Rammell said "no military chief" and "no minister" could guarantee against the loss of life.
Lt Col Thorneloe was the most senior British officer to be killed.Lt Col Thorneloe was the most senior British officer to be killed.
Mr Rammell told the BBC that advice from the military was that troops did have enough helicopters for the Afghan campaign.Mr Rammell told the BBC that advice from the military was that troops did have enough helicopters for the Afghan campaign.
"We do not commit troops, and the service chiefs will confirm this, if there is an unacceptable balance of risk," he said."We do not commit troops, and the service chiefs will confirm this, if there is an unacceptable balance of risk," he said.
Mr Rammell: "The idea we're not resourcing this operation is a million miles from the truth"
But he added: "That cannot guarantee against the loss of life, because the Taliban have hugely increased their planting of improvised explosive devices.But he added: "That cannot guarantee against the loss of life, because the Taliban have hugely increased their planting of improvised explosive devices.
"We cannot succeed in Afghanistan just in heavily-armoured vehicles or in helicopters."We cannot succeed in Afghanistan just in heavily-armoured vehicles or in helicopters.
"The military will tell you that to win hearts and minds you need boots on the ground - that entails a risk.""The military will tell you that to win hearts and minds you need boots on the ground - that entails a risk."
'Not fit for purpose''Not fit for purpose'
Col Thorneloe, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, was killed on 1 July during Operation Panther's Claw, the offensive against insurgent strongholds in Helmand province.Col Thorneloe, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, was killed on 1 July during Operation Panther's Claw, the offensive against insurgent strongholds in Helmand province.
Trooper Joshua Hammond also died when their convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED) near Lashkar Gah.Trooper Joshua Hammond also died when their convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED) near Lashkar Gah.
In memos sent three weeks earlier and published in Saturday's Daily Mail, he warned his brigade commanders in the UK about a shortage of helicopters in Helmand, and the increased risks posed to British troops.In memos sent three weeks earlier and published in Saturday's Daily Mail, he warned his brigade commanders in the UK about a shortage of helicopters in Helmand, and the increased risks posed to British troops.
"I have tried to avoid griping about helicopters - we all know we don't have enough," he wrote."I have tried to avoid griping about helicopters - we all know we don't have enough," he wrote.
"We cannot not move people, so this month we have conducted a great deal of administrative movement by road."We cannot not move people, so this month we have conducted a great deal of administrative movement by road.
"This increases the IED threat and our exposure to it.""This increases the IED threat and our exposure to it."
Col Thorneloe, from Kirtlington, near Oxford, said he had "virtually no" helicopters of the type which would allow him to move troops by air rather than road.Col Thorneloe, from Kirtlington, near Oxford, said he had "virtually no" helicopters of the type which would allow him to move troops by air rather than road.
He also termed the system used to manage helicopter movements in Afghanistan as "very clearly not fit for purpose".He also termed the system used to manage helicopter movements in Afghanistan as "very clearly not fit for purpose".
The memos were leaked by an official to Tory MP Adam Holloway, a former officer.The memos were leaked by an official to Tory MP Adam Holloway, a former officer.