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General: If we fail, the world’s terrorists will be intoxicated
Nicholas Cecil, Deputy Political Editor18 Sep 2009
Allied forces do not have the "luxury of time" in the battle against the Taliban in Afghanistan, a British military chief said today.
Major General Nick Carter, who is due to take charge of British and other Nato troops in southern Afghanistan, said there was an opportunity to "make a difference" in the next year.
But he stressed that the campaign needed to make swift progress to start convincing far more Afghans to support the Kabul government rather than the Taliban.
"We don't have the luxury of time," he said. "We've got to show positive trends as quickly as we possibly can.
"Security where we know the population is living, freedom of movement on the key highways - that means the Afghan economy can start to kick-start itself, and that people can begin to take a stake in their community - is the way in which we will achieve success."
Amid growing concerns over the Afghan strategy and the growing number of deaths, General Sir David Richards, the new head of the British army, stressed that defeat for Nato would have an "intoxicating impact" on extremists around the world.
Gen Richards said the failure of the alliance would convince terrorists that "anything might be possible", while inflicting an "enduring grand strategic impact" on Britain's global reputation.
Maj Gen Carter, who will take charge of 45,000 troops in six weeks, including the Helmand province where British forces have suffered heavy losses, believes it is possible to seize the initiative from the Taliban.
Civilians needed to be persuaded that coalition forces deserved support. "I think that it will happen slowly, but my goodness me, there'll be a tipping point when the population will suddenly realise that it's worth being with its government institutions, rather than with the insurgent," he said.
He stressed that 18 months ago there were 1,500 American soldiers in the south, a figure which is now 25,000, and with the extra resources there was an opportunity to make a difference.
Former special forces commander Lieutenant-General Sir Graeme Lamb, who is overseeing the programme of reconciliation with moderate Taliban, believes many can be won over if their "anger and grievances" are addressed. He said: "You can buy an insurgency if you have enough money."
But fresh questions were asked today by political leaders about the Afghan strategy. Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, and one of his predecessors, Lord Ashdown, suggested British forces should be in cities rather than "over-extended and isolated" in the countryside. "Unless we change our current policies and present attitudes, failure is inevitable," they warned.
So far 216 British troops have died in Afghanistan. Acting Serjeant Stuart McGrath, 28, from 2nd Battalion The Rifles and Trooper Brett Hall, 21, from 2nd Royal Tank Regiment are the latest to be killed, in separate explosions. Sjt McGrath died in Helmand, and Tpr Hall died at Selly Oak hospital, Birmingham, after being wounded in Helmand.
Reader views (3)
So a soldier's view is that the Army should stay and be allowed to do a good job. The General Public doesn't like the loss of soldiers' lives. The Politicians want to look strong on an international stage but don't want to alienate the General Public. Somewhere at the bottom of all this was a stong desire by all 3 parties to defeat really dangerous terrorists who may gain access to Pakistan's nuclear weapons.
Surely the best result would be to give the Armed Forces more money so than can really give it a go, get the job done and then get out of there . . . ?
- Roz, France, 18/09/2009 14:17
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...and Nick Clegg aspires to No 10?
- Rogan, Irving, 18/09/2009 14:03
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With all due respect General. How would the British Government like it if another country said we are going to oversee your voting as we consider it corrupt?
This is a stupid pointless war, which we cannot win much like the US war in Vietnam. This is just a stupid waste of vital resources and lives by politicians who like playing ‘War Games’ so long as they themselves don’t get hurt.
- Carl Barron, Christchurch, Dorset, 18/09/2009 14:02
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