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Afghanistan ‘like a world war’
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent11.11.08
JOHN Hutton today compared the Afghanistan campaign to the two World Wars as he paved the way to deploy more British troops against the Taliban.
The Defence Secretary said the battle against the extremists was just as important for Britain's national security as the fight against Nazi Germany and the First World War.
“In Afghanistan, the deployment of our armed forces in response to an attack on our national interests was every bit as unambiguous as the invasions of Belgium in 1914 or Poland in 1939,”
he said.
“In my view our engagement is as much a security priority for the UK today as the world wars or the Cold War.”
Prime Minister Gordon Brown also signalled that Britain may send more soldiers as part of a troops “surge” proposed by US president-elect Barack Obama.
“Of course we are ready to consider what is necessary but it must be part of a burden sharing exercise,” he said.
Both Britain and the US are urging countries in the 41-nation alliance in Afghanistan, including France and Germany, to increase their troop
numbers.
Yesterday, the coroner at the inquest of Captain David Hicks, who was shot in Helmand province in August last year, said he was very anxious that troops on the frontline in Afghanistan were having to “make do” because of a lack of protection.
Defending equipment, including the Snatch Land Rovers which have been blamed for multiple troop deaths, Mr Hutton said: “This is the thing that we worry about the most.”
The Cabinet minister said that unlike past conflicts, many people in Britain nowadays do not fully share the experiences of the armed forces.
Stressing that his duty as Defence Secretary was to unite the country behind military action, he said: “Today, coalition forces are confronted by insurgents whose morality is so depraved that they would use children as human shields and suicide bombers.
“Let us be clear: if they had the means no moral compunction would restrain the unleashing of such destructive force on the streets of Britain.”
More than 8,000 British servicemen and women are in Afghanistan and 122 have died there since the invasion in 2001.
Reader views (8)
Like most politicians Hutton is either telling lies, or he has barely a superficial knowledge of history. The current events in the Middle East bear no resemblance or comparison whatsoever to the events in Europe in 1914 or 1939, nor is the NATO invasion and military occupation of Afghanistan vital to Britain's security. Hutton is just another dishonest and transient politician who is good at starting wars, but will not suffer any agony of personal loss or serious injury himself.
- Neil, Gloucestershire, England.
Compare the body counts from WW1 & WW2 and the enormous misery and then put them up against the Afghan war. Hutton you’re an idiot and a crafty schemer.
- Stephend, London, England
When will the government realise that part of the problem, if not the major part, in Afghanistan is our presence there. Why don't we get out and let them shoot the ars-s of each other instead of our troops
- Tom Williams, Oxford
Yeah and that civvie would know what any war is like! The sooner we are rid of this bunch ne'er-do-wells the better.
- Alfie Hynes, Plymouth, England
On a day like today I think we should be using more innovative thinking that just throwing bodies at the problem.
- Stuart, Luton, UK
I am sorry, John Hutton, but it is most certainly not.
- Masopher, London, England
If it is necessary to deploy more troops surely that was relevent before the president elect of the USA's say so. Can we please nip this in the bud and NOT be Obama's poodle.
- Elizabeth, London
when will we stop wasting money and lives on a war we will never win.
We are in a credit crunch - why waste more money that we haven't got? Bring the troops back and let them patrol the streets to stop the violence as the police seem incapable.
- Taxpayer, Slough, England
