Afternoon:
11°c
Another British soldier has died in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said today.
The fatality brings the death toll for the UK forces since the campaign against the Taliban began in 2001 to 186.
The soldier from the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers died after an explosion while on foot patrol near Sangin, in Helmand, southern Afghanistan, yesterday morning. His next of kin have been informed.
David Cameron's commitment to funding Britain's armed forces was under question today after Lord Mandelson suggested Labour would not cut the defence budget.
Asked whether a future Labour government would do so to balance the public spending books, the Business Secretary said: “That is not our intention.”
His remark appeared to be an attempt to raise questions over the Tories' plans for the military. But they may also raise eyebrows in the Treasury if they are seen as a spending commitment.
Lord Mandelson was recently forced to backtrack by Chancellor Alistair Darling after suggesting there would be no comprehensive spending review before the next general election, expected next May.
Equipment and manpower for Nato's forces in Afghanistan will top the agenda when Gordon Brown holds talks today with the alliance's secretary-general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.
Reader views (4)
The same elements have been doing the only thing they know how to for centuries, we should not be there and vice versa. let's just leave that country be as it's a waste of resources and most important, British lives. I don't care what they do to each other as long as they are far away and are kept far away.
- John, Llandudno, Wales
why are we there?
what is the ultimate objective?
there is much talk about the taliban consolidating, recruiting and then exporting terror, but is this really supported by hard evidence and throughout history has this ever been the case?
this was the excuse for korea, vietnam and so many other such conflicts, but when the troops came back, if not defeated then in an uneasy stalemate, was this ever the result?
what on earth makes our 'political and military leaders' beleive they can win there when throughout history no outside force has ever defeated the home team on their own playing field.
in victorian times it was known as the great game and is ever so.
WHY?
- M.O'Brien, london.uk
This is the all out final campaign to free this territory of the Taliban. There will be more deaths yet before there is victory. We must remain committed to the purpose of this campaign and make these deaths count for something. It is not the time for turning back. We are in this to the bitter end, but we will succeed.
- Prototypical Englishman, Wormwood Scrubs
What a waste.
The war in Afghanistan is part of the process of the globalisation of cheap labour.
Send our boys off to be "culled",while filling up the country with people who will be grateful to work for slave-labour wages.
- Jimfred, London UK
