Brown misjudges the Afghanistan waiting game
Peter Hoskin 2:37pm
There's something futile about Gordon Brown's and, now, David Miliband's speeches on Afghanistan. After all, the world is still waiting to hear what Obama's strategy is for the country. Will he increase troop numbers – and by how much? What does he actually want to achieve with them? Until that's known, it's a little premature to talk about a "comprehensive political framework" for handing security responsibilities over to the Afghan army.
Worse, though, the PM's statements may actually be damaging. Sure, it's frustrating that the US President is leaving his allies hanging. But, in the meantime, any international talk about handovers and withdrawal – even if Downing Street maintain that they're not talking about withdrawing troops just yet, and even if they’re ready to increase troop numbers themselves – could simply ramp up the pressure on Obama not to increase US troop numbers to the levels requested by military commanders. In the end, it all comes down to a vicious irony: talking about a timetable now could draw the whole process out.
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TomTom
November 17th, 2009 2:54pm Report this commentMiliband is profoundly ignorant and expresses it volubly. Brown is simply platitudinous. Afghanistan is basically a tribal war and we are unsuccessful in achieving our goals of imposing one tribal group over the Pathans, which is a recurrent problem in British activity in the region.
Labour created Pakistan in 1947 and caused the bloodbath of Partition, but chose to anchor Britain in the region in perpetuity by importing Pakistan's excess birth rate and sending a British Expeditionary Force to flail around without clear objectives or proper resourcing. It is another case of Britain getting in over its head as in 1914 with its tiny army which had to be bolstered by Conscription in 1916.
Irene
November 17th, 2009 2:55pm Report this commentIf you read the Mirror today you would think Brown has promised to start wthdrawing next year!
London Calling
November 17th, 2009 3:06pm Report this commentOne Man, One Mission…Until Obama has considered the four options presented to him, the delay of which being revisions he wanted changed, we will not get a clearer
Picture of ‘The Strategy’. In all fairness to Obama, when he took over from Bush he was presented with a salvage operation strategically in Afghanistan, not for lack of sharp minds within the military, but a disconnect between the battle field and those back home in the White House.
Apparently we will not be sending 500 troops until other countries commit more. Turkey have offered more troops. We shall have to wait and see, nothings certain.
Snowman
November 17th, 2009 3:31pm Report this commentCome on, give the man a break. Has there ever been anything he didn't misjudge?
greenslime3
November 17th, 2009 4:11pm Report this commentThe problem is that having opened Pandora's Box, we can't shut it again. Whoever is in Afghanistan now, is in it for the long haul. To exit with tails between legs will send all the wrong signals to all the wrong people - China, Iran, muslim fundamentalists nutters with some maniac grudge against the West, etc, etc. Anyway, if we want to stay a player on the world stage we have to show some loyalty to our allies and those who have bought into our (collective allied coalition) story.
Now we need to focus on allowing the people of Afghanistan to create a form of government which they want - not a version of our view of democracy. But that doesn't mean that we should give in to stone-age savages, no matter how deadly they are. People who force others to do things at the point of a gun are seldom satisfied when they get what they want. The lust for further power, particularly when driven by their certainty of a fast track to heaven ensures that.
Our armed forces in Afghanistan don't mind holding the line, as long as it is for a purpose and as long as there isn't constant political interference and lack of resolve which makes it more difficult.
If we don't, the cancer will spread. Pakistan will be next and that could then easily (and quickly) feed into India - and in case you have forgotten both of those have bombs that have a very big bang.
Then the mess might be too difficult to clear up.
Snowman
November 17th, 2009 4:20pm Report this commentHowever much it may pain, we couldn't defeat the Taleban any more than an invading force here could defeat Labour, or the Tories. It's a creed, and ideology based on deeply orthodox Islam. Those who share it live there, they cannot be kicked out like the al-Qaida terrorists. Our destruction of the poppy fields only pushed those who don't share this view on how the country should be run into the hands of the religious zealots. One can only hope that the anointed one doesn't go for a surge. Utterly pointless.
Tiberius
November 17th, 2009 4:21pm Report this commentI've not seen this remarked on, but does anyone think Brown has lost weight recently? (Not as in less troughing, but as in unhealthy).
Charles Flaccidwidger
November 17th, 2009 4:34pm Report this commentTiberius, I was thinking that he'd lost weight when I saw him on TV over the weekend. He really does not look well at all. As for him making a misjudgement, well, it's not the first time and, sadly, it won't be the last.
Frank P
November 17th, 2009 4:36pm Report this commentTiberious
Diagnosis of a seer:
Fear;
Diarrhoea;
Election next year;
The end of his career!
JONNY
November 17th, 2009 5:47pm Report this commentAnd give The Taliban a Boost bigger than Brown's ever had in his life.
All for nothing. When Obama calls "walkie" Dog Brown will there by the back door wagging his tail.
Marcher Baron
November 17th, 2009 6:16pm Report this commentIs it just me or does that picture of Brown in the penguin suit we've paid for make him look like a dodgy conductor wondering where the lost chord has gone?
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