What I find intensely annoying about British media and Parliamentary discourse is the use of the phrase ‘NATO forces’. This is entirely point scoring to reinforce EC support and is not recognition of those serving in Afghanistan with the letters ISAF emblazoned onto their tunics.

The PC phrase should be ‘NATO ISAF and Afghan Forces’ in recognition of those cooperating or laying down their lives in this UN sanctioned ‘coalition of the willing’.

There are two international forces at work in Afghanistan: ISAF and the OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom). The latter is part of a larger mission by the US to counter terrorism in several locations around the world.

Ref: International Security Assistance Force
http://www.stimson.org/fopo/pdf/ISAFbackgrounder.pdf
UN Security Council 6198th Meeting; ISAF Update 2009
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2009/sc9762.doc.htm

“No more troops can be sent to Afghanistan without improvements to equipment, the Defence Secretary said today as ministers urged Afghans and other Nato members to take more responsibility for the mission”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/Afghanistan/article6856922.ece

My Noble Lord, I cannot find in any post above, any call to abandon or withdraw from Afghanistan. Neither do I remember as a Serviceman during the 70`s hearing any calls for withdrawal fom NI, nor calls for ID cards or other restrictions that have been hoisted upon citizens on the pretext of terrorism.

Having visited Afghanistan recently I can tell you that the troops are well equipped and will tell you so – the main problem is helicopters but remember you have to do foot patrols so they aren’t a total answer.

This UN intervention with 40 different nations participating is led by the US and they will have to take the lead on a refined strategy.

The quote on point scoring was not something I said – it was a soldier in Afghanistan. I was using it to illustrate the point that our troops are well informed about the reasons for being there. The problem is conveying that message to the general public. I recall in 1979 some 18 troops being killed in one IRA attack at Warren Point. Immediately the call for withdrawal from Northern Ireland became louder. Fortunately we didn’t withdraw.

We have 9000 servicemen there, a lot of those will be logistics, engineers and transport. The Army has asked for 500 more, the Government is dithering.

Korea, Suez, Ireland, Palestine, Malaya, Kenya, Cyprus, Suez Borneo, Vietnam, Aden, Radfan, Oman, Dhofar, Northern Ireland etc.

When one is talking of battles and Politicians it maybe best to remember them in light of Winston Churchills epic misadventures including, the Dardenelles,Norway and his expenses battle

http://www.fpp.co.uk/History/Churchill/Inland_Revenue.html

Or perhaps a more pertinent battle relating to the Lords…The Charge of the Light Brigade.

Whilst Politicians may know the toilets are broken perhaps the plumber knows best how stop the problems.

It is the nature of Monarchy to wage war on others sometimes without any accountability or sensible rationale. Parliament during its long history has dealt with the Monarchy and eliminated it power to wage war.

The power to do so has passed to Parliament in the form of the ‘Royal Prerogative’ and the decision given to the leader of government.

Prime Minister Blair decided that the decision to go to war should be a democratic one and passed it to a vote. He did this in the face of a conventional wisdom that said we don’t always win wars and they can and do go wrong. His logic was flawed because such a vote needed an accompanying government of national unity to stop political infighting.

Let us put the two combatants side by side, a squaddy and a guerilla and look at their attire as well as the cost of kit. No contest! The enemy’s costs are substantially lower than our own. We are not fighting a high tech enemy but we use high tech sledge hammers to crack walnuts because that’s what we do.

It all reminds me of the US cavalry’s fight against Apache Geronimo and Cochise. On reflection they seem little different to the Taliban except that they did not have at their disposal the enormous amounts of Russian ordnance lying around with which to adapt into lethal IED’s. Should we be putting cavalry into theatre?

If the war goes badly it will be Parliament that suffers not the Prime Minister. When we choose a future Prime Minister perhaps we should ensure that they are committed to using the ‘Royal Prerogative’, firstly to protect the integrity of Parliament and secondly to wage war.

The following link only goes upto the Boer War, approx 116 battles from, but not including the Battle of Hastings.

http://www.britishbattles.com/

Our troops in Afghanistan appear ill equipped and the compensation for lifelong disabilities miserly.

Three generations of males in my family have served Queen and Country, proudly.

Bring one more boy, well equipped, safely home and we will remember our brothers who fell in our hearts and minds.