Blair hails 'brilliant victory' over Taleban - 2001

bbcnews: ... "There has been a brilliant victory over Taleban... and that of course has been a welcome liberation.

"But we know that is only the start of enabling Afghanistan to cease being a failed state and become a responsible partner in the region."

Troops as targets

Doubts were raised over British involvement in the force by Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith.

The Tory leader voiced his "misgivings", which included fears the British troops could become targets for the remaining Taleban fighters and other opponents to the interim settlement.

That was a particular danger when other UK troops were involved in "search and destroy" missions elsewhere in Afghanistan.

Mr Duncan Smith also pressed for an "exit strategy" for any troop deployment and argued there should be a time limit to the mission.

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy asked about how robust the rules of engagement would be for British troops.

Mr Blair said the rules had yet to be finalised but everything possible would be done to protect UK soldiers.

The prime minister's official spokesman earlier dismissed reports that the UK could send as many as 6,000 troops. Link

db: Not too sure if we have an exit strategy even now. Maybe when the Afghans are growing cotton instead of opium.... or when all the Taleban are dead ... or when we 'liberate' the UK from Blair and his neocon friends.