Express Mortgages Express Loans Bingo Lose Weight Franchising Dating Shopping Book Shop Find Spare Parts Cut Your Bills Wine Shop Legal Store FlatShare Cruises

EXPRESS COMMENT

OTHER NATO NATIONS MUST SHOULDER BURDEN OF WAR

Saturday November 15,2008

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(1)

BRITISH troops have been continuously at war for seven years since taking part in the invasion of Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks on America.

And ever since March 2003, when Iraq was invaded, they have been fighting on two fronts.

The deaths of two Royal Marines in Afghanistan this week brings the loss of British life in these two countries to 300.

Scores of British deaths in these two campaigns have resulted from equipment being either inadequate or in scandalously short supply: more than 30 soldiers have been killed by roadside bombs which have ripped through soft-sided “snatch” Land Rovers, while others have perished because of ammunition shortages or the lack of personal armour.

So General Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the British Army, is right to warn ministers that things cannot go on like this.

As he says: “If you are committing young people to battle they have to be given the best and when circumstances change, they have to be given the best again.”

That has not been the case in recent years. While vehicles with proper armour are now arriving at the frontline, most people with a working knowledge of the Ministry of Defence’s chaotic procurement processes believe that British troops will remain the poor relations of their American counterparts when it comes to kit.

Sir Richard has also complained about the Army having to fight two wars when it is only structured to fight one.

Here is a novel suggestion: let’s withdraw from Iraq, challenge other Nato nations to take up the burden in Afghanistan and have a spell of fighting none.

TROOPS SHORTAGES

21.11.08, 1:21am

Whats new the situation during the the start of the troubles in NI was exactly the same, we used to go out on ten man patrols with 6 flak jackets between us and they even had the nerve to charge us for board and accomodation at a reduced rate I should point out. Either equip properley or pull out .The British soldiers job is to defend the Freedom and Democracy of this country but that would mean rounding up the so called politicians here who seem to be a bigger threat to our rights to remain British than any terrorist outfit and never mind Bin Laden, Tony Blair and his cronies are no better. Furthermore if the opportunities for the young men of this Country were improved they would'nt be able to field a regiment never mind an army. Lets start from within before we pretend to be the world police force if not send the bean counters out there for a few months to test the equipment and arms that they feel are good enough for our troops and see what the results would be.

• Posted by: notmonday1953 • Report Comment