Our Boys’ blood is on their hands
I ASKED the question last week. But today - with 15 soldiers dead in ten days - it's more relevant than ever.
So I ask it again: hand on heart, how many of us know what our boys in Afghanistan are actually fighting for?
How many of us know what the endgame is? How many of us have the vaguest idea what this government's objectives there are?
And the 64-thousand-dollar question is - in the name of what cause are our boys and girls being slaughtered day after bloodied day?
What goal is it that necessitates 184 bright, brave young men and women being killed and many more mutilated beyond recognition?
And if you don't know the answers to those questions, it's not your fault. Because the government doesn't seem to know either - or care.
The vague answer we get from ministers is that it's absolutely vital to national security that we defeat the Taliban.
But of course we never will. Not with the number of soldiers we have there who every day risk their lives to take territory - only to find the minute they move out, the terrorists just take it back.
Our boys aren't fighting a war - they're playing a game of cat and mouse at the behest of this penny-pinching government, who've sent them there to fight but won't pay what it costs to WIN that fight.
And if defeating the Taliban is so bloody vital to national security, why did Gordon Brown send just 100 extra soldiers to Afghanistan - when he was explicitly told by ex-Army boss, Sir Richard Dannatt, we needed at least 2,000 more on the ground to have even the vaguest hope of winning this war? And why do we have exactly the same number of helicopters for 9,000 troops as we did when there were just 4,000?
What kind of commitment is THAT to national security? What kind of commitment does it show to our soldiers, who are being thrown to the wolves because our politicians won't provide the helicopters that would stop them being blown to bits by roadside bombs?
It breaks my heart to see decent, hard-working committed men - men who refuse to live on benefits and who instead of sponging off their country want to fight for it - dying in the most horrific of circumstances because Gordon Brown refuses is trying to fight this war on the cheap.
And where IS the political will to take down the Taliban? Because if this government is serious about doing it, there needs to be more men out there, more money spent protecting them and there needs to be a strategy.
Insulting
And I'm sick to the back teeth of hearing ministers droning on about the "debt of gratitude we owe our boys". Because it's patronising, it's insulting to the families of the dead, and it's simply not TRUE.
If they did care about those soldiers they've put directly in the path of enemy bombs, they'd make sure they had the weapons and the equipment to fight back. And they haven't.
And frankly I don't care if more kids in Afghanistan are now going to school. It's not worth the wholesale slaughter of our soldiers.
So, when Gordon Brown gets back from being feted and fussed over at the G8 summit, he might first, like to think about a plan for bringing a swift end to this conflict.
And second, about diverting some of the money we squander on our over-subscribed benefits system to help those soldiers in the dust and dirt of Helmand Province who could be forgiven for thinking we'd forgotten them - soldiers prepared to die for a government that's made clear it places no value on their lives.
This article has 20 comments
I always thought that our troops were there to defend britain so what the hell are they doing in afghanistan The politicians are going on about how much they are spending on this worthless war and yet they cant fund our NHS i have a neighbour who has been waiting for more than a year now for a bone marrow transplant now they tell him they have two donors but they dont have the funds to do the op so I see it as they are not just killing our lads in afghanistan they are killing people at home because they cannot afford the funds to fund what could possibly extend my neighbours life
By jack stanton . Posted July 28 2009 at 6:27 PM.
I totally agree with Carole's comments, these politicians hardly ever send their own kids off to fight, apart from a few congress men I have heard of, who have kids over there. Supposedly Obama was getting all the troops out of harms way when he got into office, instead he is sending thousands more of our troops, into afghanistan. typical of lies we are always fed. whoever said 'politics was the last refuge of a scoundrel' (churchill maybe) was totally spot on. I have reently had a nephew in afghanistan in the army, and over a 100 + years ago a3x gt grandfather, who was badly injured, nothing has changed, go figure.
By chris weiss. Posted July 18 2009 at 10:39 PM.
You will never defeat terrorism, that's why it's so called. Like looking for shadows on a dark night.
But what do politicians care about that? Their only interest is in feeding their fat arses at the taxpayers expense.
Politics attracts the lowest form of human being. It's been like that throughout history and nothing will change. Not unless we get off OUR fat arses.
Bit like painting a wall really. No use siitting and writing about it, you have go paint it.
By Ray. Posted July 18 2009 at 4:51 PM.
Carol
I couldn’t agree more with you. We have been involved in a lot of conflict without any clear reason. In Iraq we were told that there are weapons of mass destruction and if we don’t finish Sadam ASAP it will be dangerous to the whole world. It turned out there were nothing. We have lost a lot of lives for nothing. If these lives were lost defending our country it would have been justified. I really feel for the families of these casualties. As for the war in Afghanistan I haven’t got a clue why did we get involved in it. If you ask Gordon Brown himself, I don’t think he will have a clear answer. It is about time we concentrate on our economy and get this country on its feet again.
By Magdi Mekhail. Posted July 13 2009 at 2:54 PM.
I have written to Gordon Brown quite recently with my thoughts on the loss of life due to this 'war.' All I received this morning was a thank you, saying that my letter had been passed to him. Yeh, I bet. This is the most useless prime minister we have had the misfortune to have and I didn't vote for him - did anyone?
Trouble is whoever takes power in the future will probably still have the mealy mouthed resolve that he is showing (or should we say slimy Mandelson!)
By Pauline McKiernan. Posted July 13 2009 at 2:16 PM.
Carole, I read with intrest your article today and you were spot on-why are our Armed forces there? My heart goes out to all the families and friends who have lost a member of the armed services who are tasked to do their duty by those sat behind a desk. As a EX Infranty Sergeant who as not had to encouter such a hostile eviroment i consider myself lucky, although we were alway trained for such a event. My Regiment is about to be deployed to my dismay. Carole try your best I'll join your campaign we want the troops out!
By Wayne Cheadle Hulme. Posted July 12 2009 at 8:16 PM.
Surely we are overdue a vote of confidence in this government?
By Mike. Posted July 12 2009 at 2:42 PM.
hear hear ian d! why cant we do as ian said lets have a campain to bring our forces home and protect us from the uk taliban! let them route out the terrorists and send them all back home after taking dna etc. from them gordon brown dont give a toss about soldiers or the working class british public his wife at gay pride do when they bringing the dead back from a pointless war what does that say to us all? they make me sick!
By alan cram. Posted July 12 2009 at 12:06 PM.
Here,Here well done Carole on a good write up about our boys & girls on the front line in Afghanistan.
This government couldn't govern itself never mind our forces it is an utter disgrace that this government can send our boys and girls in harm's way and not supply them with adequate equipment.
I would bring charges of manslaughter against this government if I had my way.
This government is not only bringing this country to its knees its also destroying our ability to defend itself by reducing our forces to pre-world war 2 levels, and we know what happend there don't we?
Labour have never been the friend of the armed forces not since world war 2 and it will never will be.
We've got to get back to looking after our own country and stop other people sticking there noses in our business i.e. Europe then we might have a strong armed forces dedicated to this country and not somebody else's.
Our forces not matter where they come from: past,present or future, they are the best fighting forces of the world and let nobody forget that!
By David. Posted July 12 2009 at 12:59 PM.
If the families of the people who decide to go to war took part in these wars, then I feel more diplomatic solutions would be found.
We are not a world power anymore and should not follow other countries like sheep.
If we do have to go to war then we should back our brave soldiers 100% with the best equipment at hand, if this means borrowing helicopters from America so be it, lets either win it or end it.
We cannot fight fanatics on their own terms so lets protect Britain from Britain. A soldier sighns to fight for Queen and Counry not ministers and Money!!
By Keith. Posted July 12 2009 at 1:24 PM.
Hard hitting stuff again Carole but bang on the nail. I look at my 15 year old son and think he's only a a few years younger than some of the men and women out there. It breaks my heart to read about them. I didn't vote for this and I'm sure you didn't either.
By Pamela. Posted July 12 2009 at 12:17 PM.
I agree so much with Carole my son who is 19 has been to Iraq i was so worried.In a few months he goes to Afgan which is even more worring especially when he sometimes talks about the lack of facillities eg only given 1 clip when on patrole because of no money being put into the Army. Good luck to all the lads and lasses everywhere and god bless
By Anon. Posted July 12 2009 at 12:24 PM.
People in charge like the ministers, and in the past Tony Blair, aren't sending their sons to Afghanistan and Iraq, and it isn't their sons who are in the firing line.
By mari. Posted July 12 2009 at 12:25 PM.
Yet again Carole hits the nail right square on the head. Gordon Brown, our joke PM, speaks a load of
twaddle .He seems to be more interested in poking his nose into other countries problems than sitting down and sorting out his own governments mess.when oh when will our politicians back up their fine words with the money and equipment to do the job they set our fine fighting men and women.
By Brian MacCutchan. Posted July 12 2009 at 11:55 AM.
Very well said Carol, just another little matter,the govermaent always say "we have 7 or 8000 troops in Afghanistan, fighting this war". What he forgets is there is only 7 or 800 infintry troops fighting at a time.When people see the t.v about the troops,they always show the main camps,going to get there hair cut,sleeping in tents,great food being maid,what a load off bull.For the men fighting it is realy bad.You never get to here what realy goes on,unless you have had someone there,in the thick off it for days and days,weeks and weeks.The lads ar living a nightmare every day.The only fight they are doing is trying to keep alive.God bless them all
By mummypara. Posted July 12 2009 at 10:38 AM.
They are there to stop terrorism at the starting point according to politicions. Why not just withdraw and use the troops to secure our borders? Safer, cheaper and the public will understand what the troops are doing, or will that infringe the human rights of all and sundrey to wander into Britain and reak havoc. This joke "government" has more than blood on it`s hands, it has political genicide in it`s cold heart.
PS Well done Sarah Brown for going to gay pride and ignoring the return of the war dead.
By Ian D. Posted July 12 2009 at 8:04 AM.
Thank you, Carole. I wish you would start a campaign to get our guys out of this war that cannot be won. This government does not care what happens to our troops out there. As long as we are doing what the Americans want us to do Mr Brown is happy. Bring our troops home. Get rid of this Labour government and bring Tony Blair in front of a court for his actions in the first place. How many more of our soldier have to die before something is done to stop this war. Thank you again Carole.
By Jonathan. Posted July 12 2009 at 7:04 AM.
The British Army has for years fought gloriously in Northern India, Pakistan and Afghanistan and paid dearly. The current conflict is another that will never be concluded to any satisfaction, much the same as that which embroiled the Soviet Army and the British a century ago.
Congratulations to Ms. Malone for yet another incisive column. Her observations, as always, are superb.
By jmorris. Posted July 12 2009 at 3:04 AM.
Thank you Carole for saying what most of us think. I cannot believe how uncaring Gordon Brown is. And where is Tony Blair when you want an explanation for why our troops are dying needlessly? Living off the interest no doubt. May God forgive him for his part in this tragedy because I never will.
By Katherine. Posted July 12 2009 at 12:53 AM.
I agree with Carole also its no win situation, even if they clear out the taliban as soon as the troops pull out another fanatical muslim lot will move in so those young men will have died for nothing, bring them home to root out the enemy within these shores and control our borders
By susanah. Posted July 12 2009 at 12:37 AM.