Afghanistan: Bloody betrayal, bloody liars
In this furious denunciation, military historian Max Hastings argues that ministers have contemptuously lied about Afghanistan - leaving our desperately undermanned army to make good Blair's bad cheques in blood
Bloody betrayal
Just before leaving for my first trip to Vietnam in 1970, I telephoned a veteran correspondent for advice. "Just remember," he said, "they lie, they lie, they lie."
By "they", of course, he meant American politicians, diplomats and commanders, and he was absolutely right.
The "credibility gap" in Vietnam - the chasm between what Americans claimed was happening and what actually did - contributed mightily to the final debacle.
Britain's involvement in Afghanistan is minuscule compared with Vietnam, where 600,000 American troops were committed in the worst days of 1968.
Our deployment in Helmand province has scarcely begun. Yet already the British Government has opened a credibility gap as shameful as the Americans sponsored in Saigon. It lies, it lies, it lies.
After the killings of three British soldiers within days, Tony Blair this week pledged to give our troops whatever they need in Afghanistan. His words are a mockery.
The Army, already desperately overstretched, has scarcely an extra unit to commit to Helmand. Even if it did, there are no helicopters to move them. The Prime Minister cannot magic Chinooks out of a hat, and well he knows it. Read more
Helicopters are vital because there is no other effective way for troops to get around an area as big as Scotland. Adding an extra battalion or two to the 3,300 British troops on the ground in Helmand is a token.
To do the job for which the Government has signed up its hapless soldiers, they do not need 4,000 or 5,000 men on the ground. Realistic planning would demand 50,000 or 100,000. These troops do not exist.
In Blair's Britain we have had gesture education policy, gesture health policy, gesture justice policy. Now, in Afghanistan, the Prime Minister gives us gesture military strategy. To explain, we need to go back to the beginning. Read more
db: It's always difficult to agree with everything that Max Hastings has to say and this article is no exception. But mostly he does make some very good points.
Bloody betrayal
Just before leaving for my first trip to Vietnam in 1970, I telephoned a veteran correspondent for advice. "Just remember," he said, "they lie, they lie, they lie."
By "they", of course, he meant American politicians, diplomats and commanders, and he was absolutely right.
The "credibility gap" in Vietnam - the chasm between what Americans claimed was happening and what actually did - contributed mightily to the final debacle.
Britain's involvement in Afghanistan is minuscule compared with Vietnam, where 600,000 American troops were committed in the worst days of 1968.
Our deployment in Helmand province has scarcely begun. Yet already the British Government has opened a credibility gap as shameful as the Americans sponsored in Saigon. It lies, it lies, it lies.
After the killings of three British soldiers within days, Tony Blair this week pledged to give our troops whatever they need in Afghanistan. His words are a mockery.
The Army, already desperately overstretched, has scarcely an extra unit to commit to Helmand. Even if it did, there are no helicopters to move them. The Prime Minister cannot magic Chinooks out of a hat, and well he knows it. Read more
Helicopters are vital because there is no other effective way for troops to get around an area as big as Scotland. Adding an extra battalion or two to the 3,300 British troops on the ground in Helmand is a token.
To do the job for which the Government has signed up its hapless soldiers, they do not need 4,000 or 5,000 men on the ground. Realistic planning would demand 50,000 or 100,000. These troops do not exist.
In Blair's Britain we have had gesture education policy, gesture health policy, gesture justice policy. Now, in Afghanistan, the Prime Minister gives us gesture military strategy. To explain, we need to go back to the beginning. Read more
db: It's always difficult to agree with everything that Max Hastings has to say and this article is no exception. But mostly he does make some very good points.
posted by exoplanet at 12:13 AM
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