Am at Guildhall where the white-tied and be-gowned have just said grace and sat down for their tuck.
Gordon Brown’s team feel he must get across to ordinary folk a sense that the Afghanistan military mission does not just grind on forever but is governed by a plan and has an ending.
David Miliband will speak more about the political plan tomorrow. Bob Ainsworth will address Nato allies soon. The prime minister wants people to understand the purpose and sense the progress.
So he’ll talk about the blows inflicted on al-Qaida and the prospect of a “timetable for transfer starting in 2010″. That means transfer to Afghan lead in districts – it doesn’t mean withdrawal from districts. There would still be substantial military and civilian presence.
The timetable he hopes can be unveiled in January 2010 would not be a linear progression to a final withdrawal date but would give some indicative dates for the first few districts to transfer, starting mid-2010.
Before that we get the formal announcement of the additional 500 UK forces being deployed. That could come closely timed to President Obama’s extra troops announcement, and that now looks likely between his return from Asia and the Thanksgiving holiday.
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I do wish Gordon would shut up and stop trying to spin us the idea that there is a credible plan for Afghanistan. There isn’t.
The problem is Gary that after 8 years of fighting our government still has to explain its plan. If they had one shouldn’t it be clear by now? This campaign has been a classic example of mission creep and sadly our soldiers are dying whilst our Prime Minister waffles.
Gordon Brown tried very hard to sell to the british public why we are in Afghanistan.The Mission seem to lack purpose and will, because the authors of the Mission is in the Whitehouse and Britian just complys as submissive partner. I suggest giving 6 more helicopters will NOT win ovr the British public and NOT an election winner. We seem to have stale Government which lacks ideas and firm decision making. It is time we stopped usng the red herring of we are protecting UK when we fight in Afghanistan. Ssdly even the 7/7 bombs in London would not have happened if it wasn’t for Tony Blair wanting to involve us with US fued with Osama Bin Laden and US foriegn policy. That is openly racist towards Arabs and Muslim. It is time we held our Politicians to account as well as real terrorists of all faiths.No special treatment for so called friends.our British troops are NOT at fault but our Governemnt of the time, Blair lied to the country.We bailed out crooked Bankers with Billions and yet we seem to lack purpose and money for our British heros who give their lives for our great counry. our politicians were concerned about duck houses while we have no money for our soldier.
I honestly think the only people that beleive the Government is the Governmet. The suggestion we are protecting UK while we have aimless war in Afghanistan about sums up the lack of comman sense. It would be wiser to spend 20% of the money in Afghanistan on UK border control and actually pull back with our ties to US and put Britian first.We seem to have children in charge of the country who can’t even think. but the have time for Billions to waste wth Bankers. What we need in Afghanistan is monitors at stage 1 when aide comes to Karzia, then stage 2 monitor Aide going to regions and then stage 3 Monitor Aide going to the public and farmers. NOT more soldiers. Afghanistan is the sespit of Blair’s makind who has now walked away free and left problems for our country. In my opion ther should have been 3 more gallows with Saddam, one for Blair, one for Bush , and one for Osama Bin Laden. Amazing how Western leaders are above justice and accountaility. being deselcted or losing office is no punishment for mass murder. Blair has the Blood of British soldiers on his hands as well as Iraqies and Afghans. But we seem to have short memories on how we were lied too.
I almost totally agree with Mr Nasim. We do not have a strategy in Afghanistan except to support and be a puppet to the USA.I do believe THEY went in there to avenge 7/11.The Taliban are a nasty religious people and i abhor the way they treat women , but it is up to the people of Afghanistan to get rid of them.
I do believe that the Muslim religion is dangerous for the world and must never be allowed to have any power in this country
Sadly as soon as I heard the news about a conference in January in London I thought about how totally ‘political’ this is. Gordon Brown obviously thinks he’ll get some sort of boost to his election chances by putting us through another talking shop – which will be very expensive I might add ( security!!)- and hopes he’ll have another go at saving the world. Compare and contrast the G20. I began by saying ’sadly’ because I think this way now after these years of New Labour spin and immoral ‘positioning’ rather than actually doing anything.
It’s tempting to say conventional warfare seldom works in Afghanistan,so imperilling our troops may well be pointless.My improbable alternative is to subject the locals to an unending bombardment of the reality TV that assaults us,and see how long they last before losing their minds,and with it their former zealotory – “I’m a extremist celebrity” – “Bigot brother” etc etc – Am I onto something ?!
I note Alan Clarke’s comment that Muslim religion is dangerous for the world. Firstly, Islam is the religion and Muslims are the followrs. What I fear Mr Clarke is jumping on the band wagon of the few extreamist in Islam. As they are Jewish and as they are Chritians. It is time we all consider what we all have in comman, rather then focus on afew idiots in all faiths who wish to trade on fear, because they may be insecur themselves. I note that Mr Clarke lacks knowledge of British History. If it was NOT for the Arabs and Musim who were close friends of the Queen Elizabeth the First and mutaul respect we had for each other. This country would have now been Spanish. The fact ommitted selectively by many is that the North African Muslims and Arabs destroyed much of the Spanish Armada in the Med before it could set sail for England. So my dear friends most religions are open for discussion but please base that on facts rather then the interputation of the very few. We still have English men who abuse their wives and even kids. but we know that is because they are ignorant not because they are Christians. Wisdom is easy when you use your eyes in day light.
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