A damning indictment

Aside from the tragic deaths incurred, there are few more damning indictments of the Government’s failure to properly equip the armed forces than the resignation of Major Sebastian Morley, the commander of SAS forces in Afghanistan.  According to the Telegraph, he’s quitting in protest – and disgust – at the “gross negligence” and “chronic underinvestment” which allowed British troops to be transported around Afghanistan in vulnerable Snatch Land Rovers, despite repeated warnings from Major Morley that continued use of the vehicles would contribute towards British fatalities.  And contribute it did.  On 17 June this year, four of Major Morley’s colleagues were killed when their Snatch Land Rover hit a landmine in Helmand Province.

Thankfully, the Snatch Land Rovers are now being superceded – but not before they played their part in numerous preventable deaths.  And what is to come?  There are already questions being asked about the MoD’s £700 million plan to equip British troops in Afghanistan.