Brown accepts responsibility for strategy in Afghanistan
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, June 5, IRNA – Prime Minister Gordon Brown has clarified that he is responsible for Britain’s policy in Afghanistan amid reports of dispute with military chiefs over the number of troops currently deployed in the country.
“I accept responsibility for UK strategy in Afghanistan,” said Brown, whose role as prime minister includes being the effective commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
But in a written parliamentary reply published Friday, he refused to say what recent advice he has received from the Chief of the Afghan staff regarding future troop levels in Afghanistan.
Before his resignation, Defence Secretary John Hutton denied that Brown’s reluctance to accept recommendations to send an extra 4,000 troops to Helmand undermined Britain’s reputation and credibility when dealing with the US and other Nato allies.
“There was no suggestion that we send 4,000 additional troops to Afghanistan. The Chief of the Defence Staff—who is my principal military adviser, as he is of the Prime Minister—is content with the decisions that the Prime Minister has made,” Hutton told MPs.
The denial came after the Independent newspaper claimed that Britain's most senior military commanders warned the prime minister that unless he sends more troops to Afghanistan, Britain will lose credibility with its American allies.
The UK’s latest strategy was set out by Brown in April, when he announced plans to temporarily increase Britain's deployment in Afghanistan by a further 700 troops to 9,000 but reportedly rejected calls from military chiefs for more permanent reinforcements.
Pressure on additional troops is being added by increasing casualty rates, with the total number of soldiers killed in Afghanistan as a result of hostile action this week overtaking the 136 combat deaths suffered in Iraq.
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