MP: We are fighting the wrong enemy in the wrong country
Today in the House of Commons the Secretary of State for Defence [Rt. Hon. Philip Hammond MP] made a Statement about the recent deaths of British soldiers killed by rogue Afghan security forces. There have been 51 cases of ‘green on blue’ this year alone, compared to just 3 in 2008. John highlighted contradictory remarks last week made by the DFID Secretary and the Defence Secretary
John said:
“Last week in a Statement on Afghanistan, the DFID Secretary stressed the importance of nation building. Yet the Defence Secretary – rightly in my view – stated that now Al Qaeda had fled we should not put our troops lives in danger for the sake of nation building, but only to protect British security interest. Which is the Government’s view? The importance of the distinction being that the first necessitates defeat of the Taliban, whereas the second doesn’t.”
In answer the Defence Secretary stressed the importance of ISAF work in the past.
John said afterwards:
“The Defence Secretary ducked the question. Last week showed there was confusion at the heart of our Afghan policy. We have long confused the mission, and are now fighting the wrong enemy in the wrong country.”
Ends
Word Count: 216
Date: 17th September 2012
Notes to Editors
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