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Soldiers’ lives have been wasted in Afghanistan, says top Tory
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor20 Aug 2009
Senior Tory David Davis lambasted the Government today for wasting soldiers' lives in Afghanistan and warned the public will not tolerate an "open-ended" war.
As the country voted in its presidential elections, the former shadow home secretary called for a massive "surge" in troop numbers to prevent further British deaths.
Writing in the Standard, Mr Davis called for a major change in strategy to help bring Britain's military involvement "to a conclusion".
He said that the West should foot the bill for a six-fold increase in the size of the Afghan national army to 600,000, which would remove any doubt that the Taliban could return once Western troops pulled out.
As voting started today, three Afghan cities came under rocket attack from insurgents. The Taliban are determined to disrupt the election that is expected to return President Hamid Karzai to office. With the number of British troops killed now at 204, both Gordon Brown and David Cameron are coming under pressure to map out an exit strategy.
Mr Davis revealed that he was among the few Tories who privately expressed their doubts when British troops were sent to Helmand in 2006.
In a withering attack on Labour's handling of the war, he said that “after years of pain and over 200 British deaths” the UK was no closer to eradicating the drug trade, wiping out corruption or getting the economy on its feet. Tony Blair and Mr Brown had “wasted six years and many lives” because of a lack of resources and flawed strategy, Mr Davis said.
“This war deserves more resources, more political effort and imagination, and a clearer focus than we are currently giving it,” he said. Anticipating President Obama's expected decision to make a fresh injection of troops, he called for an Iraq-style military surge “which involves a massive increase in force, to both decapitate the Taliban and deny them control of the countryside.”
He said that a huge increase in Afghan army numbers would “answer the question in every Afghan mind, namely what happens when the Westerners leave? At the moment the answer to that question is the return of the Taliban.”
Mr Davis said: “If we carry through this strategy, we will have a decent chance of creating a stable Afghan state, and of bringing this operation to a conclusion with honour and dignity. If we do not do it then our strategic indecision will throw away all the tactical victories that our brave young soldiers buy with their lives.”
Reader views (5)
Gordon Brown has abdicated the leadership of a nation which is at war. It is at war because that is the experience of our soldiers and airmen fighting it, not a 'security action' or 'internal security'. It is a counter insurgency war and as such merits national leadership in the form of a war cabinet chaired by the prime minister, not the passing of the buck to a hapless junior secretary of state for defence. At the same time Brown must use the word 'war'. If he does not, then our troops are entitled to believe that they are not getting the government's full support. NATO cannot fight a war, only national governments can do that because it requires the coordinated effort of all government departments to achieve a national goal. At present we simply have a shambles and soldiers lives are indeed being wasted in pursuit of uncoordinated policy and a strategic vacuum.
- Peter Haldane, London, 20/08/2009 16:19
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Davis should be the new Tory Defence Minister! He has the experience and knowledge needed!
- Joe Wilson, London, 20/08/2009 15:12
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David Davies is absolutely right.
Steve M, London I agree with you 100%
- Mrs, London UK, 20/08/2009 14:40
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I agree with everything Davis says on this subject.
- Sue, Orpington, Kent, 20/08/2009 12:45
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On Newsnight last night they showed an American Army vehicle which had just driven over an IAD. the vehicle looked a mess, but guess what all of the Crew walked away in one piece.
This is the difference between us and the Americans, they are determined to provide their troops with the best equipment that money can buy.
The Ministry of Defence and its Boss Gordon Brown should hang their heads in shame, they should be made to attend the Autopsies , and face the relatives of our brave but dead Soldiers
- Steve M, LONDON, 20/08/2009 11:13
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