Afghan troops must ‘focus on security’ (From Bournemouth Echo)

Afghan troops must ‘focus on security’

6:00am Monday 3rd August 2009 in

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BRITISH troops in Afghanistan have too many responsibilities and must refocus their efforts on security, according to a hard-hitting report by MPs.

The influential foreign affairs select committee has called for Britain to reduce its role in the country, criticising the “mission creep” which has seen it expand to include tackling drugs, human rights and state-building.

Its report, published yesterday after the deadliest month for British troops since the mission, states that the war effort had delivered “much less than promised.” And it was damming of the government’s “failure to provide the military with clear direction”, citing “unrealistic planning at senior levels, poor co-ordination between Whitehall departments”. In particular ,the committee called for Britain to give up its lead role in tacking the drug trade.

Richard Drax, Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for South Dorset, who served for nine years with the Coldstream guards, told the Echo his friends still serving in the forces felt the government had “failed to regard this conflict as a war” and so provide adequate resources.

He said: “The Government is reacting to situations as they occur without long-term thought. They have never explained to the British public why we are there.”

Annette Brooke, MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole said welcomed the debate sparked by the report.

She added: “History tells us no country has ever been successful in bringing peace to Afghanistan or in achieving its objectives in Afghanistan. We must not try to overachieve or we will end up in a worse situation.”

Sue Thwaites of Burton, Christchurch, whose son Neil Dunstan was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan last year serving with the Royal Marines said: “I would not want the troops to be pulled out now, not when so many soldiers have lost their lives. We need to see the job through, but they do need more equipment.”

Marine Dunstan’s inquest was held on Friday and the coroner recorded a verdict of unlawful killing.