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| Britain | |
| PM challenged in helicopter row | |
| 2009-07-16 | |
| The prime minister's assertion that a lack of helicopters has not cost lives in Afghanistan is to be challenged by an influential MPs' committee. The Ministry of Defence should increase the number of helicopters and the training of crews, a defence select committee report will say. The report will also warn the government not to delay decisions on acquiring further helicopters. Amid rising UK casualties, critics have claimed troops are ill-equipped. BBC political correspondent Carole Walker says the report, which is due to be released later on Thursday, will express concern that operational commanders in Afghanistan have to use ground transport. It says helicopter lift would be preferable in terms of the outcome and the protection of our forces. The report will warn that a reduction in medium and heavy lift helicopters will make the situation worse. The report has been brought forward in time for the Commons debate on Afghanistan later and is due to be published towards the end of the prime minister's appearance before a committee of senior MPs. On Wednesday Mr Brown said it was "absolutely clear" the heavy loss of life in recent weeks was not due to a lack of helicopters. But Tory leader David Cameron called for more urgent action and criticised "lofty and vague" war aims. An offensive designed to increase security ahead of Afghan elections next month has seen a big increase in UK casualties, with 15 servicemen killed in the first 10 days of the month. It means 184 service personnel have now died in Afghanistan since 2001, more than the 179 who were killed during the war in Iraq.
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| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 Have these people never heard of Fire-Force? And when not being used for that, our choppers, old Allouettes were used for transportation. Maybe Mr Brown and his ilk would like to forego their own security due to a lack of finance and interest. |
| Posted by: rhodesiafever 2009-07-16 13:14 |