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Brits Leave Helmand, Promise to Never Return for Combat
[Tolo News] The British troops presence in Afghanistan was reduced to its lowest point in the past 13 years this week with the closing of Camp Bastion in souther Helmand...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan... province. Announcing the closure, British Minister of Defense assured that British troops would not return to Afghanistan for combat purposes. Minister Michael Fallon said the end of Britannia's combat mission in Afghanistan comes at a time when the country a stronger, more modern fighting force of its own. He argued that Afghanistan should not be compared to Iraq, and faces a brighter future. "There is a better chance of a more stable future in Afghanistan because we have a government there of national unity and an army that is supported by the local population that represents all parts of Afghanistan," Fallon said. "You don't have the sectarian divide that we've seen in Iraq; and an army that's already proved itself over the last couple of years that it is prepared to tackle the Taliban in some of the more difficult areas of north Helmand, and therefore there is a greater chance that Afghanistan will be more secure," he added. Camp Bastion was the largest foreign base in southern Afghanistan, and was home to british forces as well as some U.S. troops, with over 40,000 based there at times. It was the center of cooperation between the NATO ...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A cautionary tale of cost-benefit analysis.... coalition countries in south and southwest Afghanistan. The British Defense minister acknowledged that the military and politicians had made plenty of mistakes over the course of the 13 year war in Afghanistan. Nevertheless, Fallon maintained that Afghanistan today is incomparable to Afghanistan in 2001. "We went in there after 9/11 to stop it becoming a safe haven for al Qaeda and I think we've achieved that particular aim, but there are constant new threats, particularly from Islamic extremism, that seems to spread into different forms in different countries, which is why we are now committed to tackling it in Iraq and in Syria as well," Fallon said. "But in Afghanistan, we leave behind a home-grown army, democratically-elected government and the best possible chance of a safer future, largely due to the sacrifice and commitment of British and other NATO troops." The Afghan Ministry of Defense echoed the Brit's confidence, and thanked him for his country's support over the past decade. "This is a good opportunity for the Afghan army and security forces to put into practice the capabilities they have already demonstrated over the last 12 years in the defence of their country," Ministry front man General Zaher Azimi said. In December, the NATO combat mission will end and most foreign troops will withdraw. Since the signing of the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) between Kabul and Washington, however, plans for an extended training and advising mission have been made. Some 12,500 foreign troops are expected to stay beyond 2014 in order to continue to help assist Afghan cops. Posted by: Fred 2014-10-28 |
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