Critical Allies

Another British soldier died yesterday from wounds he received after being shot in southern Afghanistan.  The soldier was from 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.

We have now lost 346 of our armed forces in the Afghanistan war.

Last week we learned, from the Wikileaks documents, that Gulab Mangai, governor of Helmand province, was particularly disdainful of the British effort in the town of Sangin - which has become synonymous with heavy UK casualties.  In a communication to British officials in January 2009, he wrote "Stop calling it the Sangin district and start calling it the Sangin base - all you have done here is built a military camp next to the city."

Furthermore, the cables report conversations in which Mr Karzai said that Britain was "not up to the task" of securing the southern province of Helmand and suggested the job would be better given to the US.  Karzai is also reported to have told US officials he was puzzled why security in Helmand had deteriorated after the arrival of British troops.

A US general, Dan McNeill, who led NATO forces in Afghanistan in 2007/08 was also scathing in his remarks: he had been "dismayed" by the British effort which "made a mess of things" in Helmand.

We have now lost 346 of our armed forces in the Afghanistan war plus the unknown numbers who have sustained serious injuries.

Isn't it good to know that our allies think so highly of our efforts? Their attempts at damage limitation flattery doesn't impress.

Update 7 Dec:  A fellow blogger has provided more information about the latest tragedy.

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The Karzia Brothers - A Must Read

left to right: Hamed Karzia, Ahmed Wali Karzia

Hamed Karzai is the head of Afghanistan's government. Ahmed Wali Kazai is the most powerful figure in a large area of southern Afghanistan, where the Taliban insurgency is strongest, and is said to be in the pay of the CIA. They are brothers.

The American ties to Mr Ahmed Karzai have created deep divisions within the Obama administration. The critics say the ties complicate American's increasingly tense relationship with President Hamid Karzai, who has struggled to build sustained popularity among Afghans and has long been portrayed by the Taliban as an American puppet.

More broadly, some American officials argue that the reliance on Ahmed Wali Karzai undermines the American push to develop an effective central government that can maintain law and order and eventually allow the US to withdraw.

The above is part of an article in today's New York Times and I suggest you may like to read the whole of it in order to see the big picture.

Now I can see the reason why Obama is stalling on the question of strategy in Afghanistan.

Our troops are out there fighting for their lives while America pays Ahmed Wali Karzai this mafialike individual who lords it over southern Afghanistan. The article also implies Karzai is involved in the drugs trade which of course he denies.

We should withdraw from that country and leave American to get on with their games. I do hope this reaches the MSM, then the support for this war will surely evaporate.

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