MP says key stumbling-block to diplomatic solution must be removed
Today in the House of Commons, the Rt Hon Justine Greening MP [Secretary of State for International Development] made the Government’s quarterly statement on Afghanistan on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Defence and her own Department. Again, John took the opportunity to press the Government about its failed policy and that of the Americans.
John asked,
“For those of us who opposed our involvement in Afghanistan, it was obvious from the start that the Taliban would not be beaten given available resources, and that we were fighting the wrong enemy in the wrong country, given the differences between the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.”
“Yet the key stumbling-block to a diplomatic solution remains the American refusal to conduct non-conditional talks with the Taliban. They will only talk if the Taliban lays down its arms and accepts the constitution. This will not happen. Should the Government not do more to persuade the Americans to move their position, for we showed in Northern Ireland that you can talk and fight at the same time?”
The Secretary of State suggested we were winning the war against the Taliban.
John said afterwards,
“This Government statement was once again depressing. It denies the reality on the ground. We appear to have learnt nothing since the very start of this fool’s errand. How many more lives are we going to lose before the penny drops? We must remain focused on our initial core aim of keeping Al-Qaeda out of Afghanistan.”
Ends
Word Count: 268
Date: 13th September 2012
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