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Kit 'ready' for Afghan build-up Kit 'ready' for Afghan build-up
(about 1 hour later)
The UK's armed forces have the vehicles and equipment needed to commit 500 more personnel to Afghanistan, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth has said.The UK's armed forces have the vehicles and equipment needed to commit 500 more personnel to Afghanistan, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth has said.
A ministerial committee is expected to be told by the chief of the defence staff that kit supplies are adequate. A ministerial committee was expected to be told by the chief of the defence staff that kit supplies are adequate.
This was one of three conditions Gordon Brown said must be met before he would send more troops. He will say if the others have been met later this week. Prime Minister Gordon Brown is expected to confirm later that this and three other conditions, required before he would send more troops, had been met.
It comes a day before President Obama's announcement on US troop commitments.It comes a day before President Obama's announcement on US troop commitments.
Confirming the military had enough equipment, Mr Ainsworth said "a lot of work" had been done to make sure the conditions set by the prime minister had been met. Confirming the military had enough equipment, Mr Ainsworth said "a lot of work" had been done to meet the conditions set by the prime minister.
What we need is a political push to match the military push we're now agreeing to Gordon BrownWhat we need is a political push to match the military push we're now agreeing to Gordon Brown
As well as the availability of equipment, Mr Brown said in October that Britain's Nato allies must agree to send more troops to share the burden, and Afghan President Hamid Karzai must also commit to train more local forces to fight alongside Western soldiers.As well as the availability of equipment, Mr Brown said in October that Britain's Nato allies must agree to send more troops to share the burden, and Afghan President Hamid Karzai must also commit to train more local forces to fight alongside Western soldiers.
Merlins readyMerlins ready
The National Security, International Relations and Development Committee, which is chaired by the prime minister, will meet on Monday morning in London. The National Security, International Relations and Development Committee, which is chaired by the prime minister, is meeting on Monday in London.
Chief of the defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Jock Stirrup, is expected to report that equipment levels have been increased since troop numbers were boosted to 9,000 in August.Chief of the defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Jock Stirrup, is expected to report that equipment levels have been increased since troop numbers were boosted to 9,000 in August.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Sir Jock said the military had "more than met the remit" in terms of quantity of equipment, with quality "going up all the time".Speaking ahead of the meeting, Sir Jock said the military had "more than met the remit" in terms of quantity of equipment, with quality "going up all the time".
Mr Brown is also expected to set out the next stage of his Afghan strategy and renew calls on Pakistan to step up efforts to track down al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden.
However, the shadow defence minister, Patrick Mercer, said extra troops should have been sent sooner.However, the shadow defence minister, Patrick Mercer, said extra troops should have been sent sooner.
"Commanders in the field have been asking for troops for at least a year now, it's a strange thing when this government only sends men when political pressure is put on them, not military," he said."Commanders in the field have been asking for troops for at least a year now, it's a strange thing when this government only sends men when political pressure is put on them, not military," he said.
ANALYSIS By Caroline Wyatt, defence correspondent, BBC News Following constant negative headlines about shortages of equipment and helicopters in Helmand over recent months, the government is keen to show the 500 extra troops will have what they need before they are deployed. The number of armoured vehicles and helicopters has been increased to ensure all soldiers will be fully equipped for the operations they are asked to undertake. The recently-arrived Merlin helicopters have been given the green light for operations in Afghanistan, while more heavily armoured vehicles such as Mastiffs and Ridgbacks are now in Helmand. But the two remaining conditions depend on others. One is that Britain's Nato allies agree to send more troops to share the burden, while President Karzai must show his government's commitment to train and send more Afghan forces to fight alongside Britain's. The wait for those conditions to be met still leaves 500 British soldiers unsure exactly when they'll deploy.ANALYSIS By Caroline Wyatt, defence correspondent, BBC News Following constant negative headlines about shortages of equipment and helicopters in Helmand over recent months, the government is keen to show the 500 extra troops will have what they need before they are deployed. The number of armoured vehicles and helicopters has been increased to ensure all soldiers will be fully equipped for the operations they are asked to undertake. The recently-arrived Merlin helicopters have been given the green light for operations in Afghanistan, while more heavily armoured vehicles such as Mastiffs and Ridgbacks are now in Helmand. But the two remaining conditions depend on others. One is that Britain's Nato allies agree to send more troops to share the burden, while President Karzai must show his government's commitment to train and send more Afghan forces to fight alongside Britain's. The wait for those conditions to be met still leaves 500 British soldiers unsure exactly when they'll deploy.
The government has announced that recently arrived Merlin helicopters had been given the green light for operations a month ahead of schedule.The government has announced that recently arrived Merlin helicopters had been given the green light for operations a month ahead of schedule.
They have undergone a £42.5m upgrade programme since returning from operations in Iraq to prepare them for the different conditions in Afghanistan - in particular high altitudes and very wide ranges of temperatures.They have undergone a £42.5m upgrade programme since returning from operations in Iraq to prepare them for the different conditions in Afghanistan - in particular high altitudes and very wide ranges of temperatures.
The Ministry of Defence also said the number of heavily armoured Mastiff and Ridgback vehicles available to troops had increased significantly in recent months.The Ministry of Defence also said the number of heavily armoured Mastiff and Ridgback vehicles available to troops had increased significantly in recent months.
Earlier this year, Sir Jock said he was "busting a gut" to ensure more helicopters were sent to Afghanistan.Earlier this year, Sir Jock said he was "busting a gut" to ensure more helicopters were sent to Afghanistan.
The head of the army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, also said he had given the government a "shopping list" of equipment.The head of the army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, also said he had given the government a "shopping list" of equipment.
The US, meanwhile, has been undertaking an exhaustive review of its strategy in Afghanistan after its top commander, Gen Stanley McChrystal, asked for at least 40,000 more personnel.The US, meanwhile, has been undertaking an exhaustive review of its strategy in Afghanistan after its top commander, Gen Stanley McChrystal, asked for at least 40,000 more personnel.
Reports citing anonymous officials have suggested that a figure somewhat below that mark is likely to be announced by President Obama on Tuesday.Reports citing anonymous officials have suggested that a figure somewhat below that mark is likely to be announced by President Obama on Tuesday.
Public commitmentPublic commitment
On Saturday, Mr Brown told the BBC that Mr Karzai would be set targets by the international community for training 50,000 Afghan forces and tackling corruption.On Saturday, Mr Brown told the BBC that Mr Karzai would be set targets by the international community for training 50,000 Afghan forces and tackling corruption.
He will be expected to commit to them at an international conference in London on 28 January, the PM added.He will be expected to commit to them at an international conference in London on 28 January, the PM added.
"What we need is a political push to match the military push we're now agreeing to," Mr Brown said."What we need is a political push to match the military push we're now agreeing to," Mr Brown said.
A final announcement on whether all three of the government's conditions have been met - and therefore whether the extra troops will be sent - is expected from the prime minister later this week.