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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Brown stresses Afghan commitment | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown has said the UK must not be "deterred" from its mission in Afghanistan despite the risk to troops, paying tribute to them as "our heroes". | |
| In a speech in London, he said we "cannot, must not and will not walk away" from the mission in Afghanistan. | |
| His comments come after five soldiers were killed in Helmand on Tuesday by a policeman being trained by UK forces. | His comments come after five soldiers were killed in Helmand on Tuesday by a policeman being trained by UK forces. |
| The mentoring must continue "because it is what distinguishes a liberating army from an army of occupation", he added. | |
| "We will succeed or fail together and we will succeed," Mr Brown stressed. | |
| His speech came amid growing unease at Westminster about the situation in Afghanistan, with a handful of Labour MPs calling for a phased withdrawal of British troops. | |
| The House of Lords is to debate the condition of the armed forces later on Friday. | The House of Lords is to debate the condition of the armed forces later on Friday. |
| 'Sustained pressure' | 'Sustained pressure' |
| The UK's most senior general in Afghanistan, Jim Dutton, has told the BBC the killing of the five soldiers, in Helmand province on Tuesday, "probably won't be the last" such "atrocity". | The UK's most senior general in Afghanistan, Jim Dutton, has told the BBC the killing of the five soldiers, in Helmand province on Tuesday, "probably won't be the last" such "atrocity". |
Most recent UK fatalities | Most recent UK fatalities |
| Total deaths 2009: 93 | Total deaths 2009: 93 |
| Updated: Thu Nov 05 2009Full list | Updated: Thu Nov 05 2009Full list |
| However, the government says the Afghan mission is vital to ensuring al-Qaeda does not increase its powers, and will therefore help improve the UK's defences against terrorist attacks. | However, the government says the Afghan mission is vital to ensuring al-Qaeda does not increase its powers, and will therefore help improve the UK's defences against terrorist attacks. |
| In his speech, Mr Brown said the UK's role in Afghanistan could not undertaken without "risk or danger" and paid tribute to the sacrifice of British troops, saying they were "a defining feature" of the British nation. | |
| He defended the "vital" role that British troops were playing in training Afghan troops, saying it was the "safest or easiest alternative" but it was the "right thing to do". | |
| He said the the main terrorist threat to the UK continues to emanate from Afghanistan and Pakistan. | |
| He added that so long as military action has a "suppressive effect on al-Qaeda", which he will say continues to plot attacks on Britain from the region, "we cannot, must not and will not walk away". | |
| Mr Brown added: "We will not be deterred, dissuaded or diverted from taking whatever measures are necessary to protect our security... | |
| The vast majority of those policemen are doing a good job for the future of Afghanistan - as good as they are able to. There is always going to be the odd one or two rogues General Jim Dutton Troop deaths 'not last atrocity' | The vast majority of those policemen are doing a good job for the future of Afghanistan - as good as they are able to. There is always going to be the odd one or two rogues General Jim Dutton Troop deaths 'not last atrocity' |
| "We will not give up this strategy of mentoring [police and soldiers], because it is what distinguishes a liberating army from an army of occupation." | "We will not give up this strategy of mentoring [police and soldiers], because it is what distinguishes a liberating army from an army of occupation." |
| The prime minister will say that the Afghan army should grow from its current strength of 80,000 men to more than 130,000 by the end of 2010. | The prime minister will say that the Afghan army should grow from its current strength of 80,000 men to more than 130,000 by the end of 2010. |
| He predicated that the "heroism" of personnel currently serving in Afghanistan will be taught to future generations "just as in the past we learned of the bravery and sacrifice of British soldiers in the First and Second World Wars". | |
| Afghan President Hamid Karzai was recently re-elected, amid allegations of widespread corruption. | Afghan President Hamid Karzai was recently re-elected, amid allegations of widespread corruption. |
| Commenting on the election, Mr Brown is expected to say: "He needs a contract with the Afghan people; a contract against which Afghans, as well as the international community, can judge his success. | Commenting on the election, Mr Brown is expected to say: "He needs a contract with the Afghan people; a contract against which Afghans, as well as the international community, can judge his success. |
| "International support depends on the scale of his ambition and the degree of his achievement in five key areas: security, governance, reconciliation, economic development, and engagement with Afghanistan's neighbours." | "International support depends on the scale of his ambition and the degree of his achievement in five key areas: security, governance, reconciliation, economic development, and engagement with Afghanistan's neighbours." |
| The death of another soldier in Sangin, central Helmand, on Thursday, brings the number of UK personnel killed in Afghanistan since the mission began in October 2001 to 230. | The death of another soldier in Sangin, central Helmand, on Thursday, brings the number of UK personnel killed in Afghanistan since the mission began in October 2001 to 230. |
| 'Tough questions' | 'Tough questions' |
| The Lib Dems have said a comprehensive change in strategy is required to make headway in Afghanistan. | The Lib Dems have said a comprehensive change in strategy is required to make headway in Afghanistan. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| The party has denied it is "flirting" with calling for troop withdrawal, stressing it continues to support the mission but defending its right to criticism the course of the war against the Taliban. | The party has denied it is "flirting" with calling for troop withdrawal, stressing it continues to support the mission but defending its right to criticism the course of the war against the Taliban. |
| "We do understand the costs of withdrawal would be absolutely huge," foreign affairs spokesman Ed Davey told the BBC. | "We do understand the costs of withdrawal would be absolutely huge," foreign affairs spokesman Ed Davey told the BBC. |
| But he added: "It is the opposition's job to ask tough questions when British soldiers are being killed at this appalling rate. It is right to question the strategy. It is failing at an accelerating rate." | But he added: "It is the opposition's job to ask tough questions when British soldiers are being killed at this appalling rate. It is right to question the strategy. It is failing at an accelerating rate." |
| During the defence debate in the House of Lords, peers including former Chiefs of the Defence Staff Lord Boyce and Lord Craig of Radley are expected to speak. | During the defence debate in the House of Lords, peers including former Chiefs of the Defence Staff Lord Boyce and Lord Craig of Radley are expected to speak. |