"Bring 'em on" ... more UK troops consigned to die in foreign poppy fields.

Des Browne the baffled, grey haird, whey faced and probably sincere man in charge of the armed forces has been asked to send more UK troops for Taliban target practice - he will announce his intentions today or tommorrow after having been faced with an ultimatum from the senior commanders in Afghanistan.Having miscalculated the first time .. we'll see if we can get it right this time... the costs ?

As the Independent reports today
Britain to put in more troops as attacks mount
By Marie Woolf and Raymond Whitaker 9th July 2006

Britain's beleaguered troops in southern Afghanistan are to be heavily reinforced after a request from defence chiefs. Des Browne, the Secretary of State for Defence, will tell the Commons this week that a force of up to 1,000 soldiers, including combat troops and logistical support, will be urgently sent to the country.

Six months ago (27/1/06) Lord Patel said "Reid sends ill equipped troops to certain deaths in S Afghanistan"

Defence Secretary "Dr" John Reid met some of the troops due to die ("We expect to take casualties") in Afghanistan. In a nationwide 2 bases *Salisbury Plain , Dittingham Norfolk, and Otterburn) exercise 3 Para are part of 3000 3,300 army personnel are due to go to the lawless southern region of the country.

Those readers interested in history might wish to go back further (222/12/04)....

“Official” Terrorist lights fires of resistance in Afghanistan" by Edward Teague

.... Watch this space for an announcement about troop movements from the Scotsman John Reid AKA Minister of Defence – augmenting NATO forces (now approx 500) – beefing up the response – sharing the burden – spreading the load – part of a widening response in the War on Terror – blah blah … pulling US chestnuts out of the fire – re-run history reel .. Terrorist aided by US bites the hand that feeds … Osama ? Hekmatyar ?

The main problems are the initial shortage of helicopter transport, trained crews (which is larded with intra service strife), maintenance, spare parts availability (which is larded with problems of the Berry amendment , shortage of special metals etc., etc.,) the problems of heat, dust, irregular maintenance and a huge demand on their time, flying in terrifying terrain.

The Canadians resolved these problems ... they didn't take any helicopters and as a consequence their road convoys are taking a disproportionate amount of flak (and deaths).

The major point worrying senior commanders is the huge caches of shoulder fired Anti Aircraft weapons funded by the CIA or simply left behind by the Russians.

NOTE FOR EDITORS

1. Make sure you know how to spell Hekmatyar.
2. Useful quote, " Uneasy sits the King (Kharzai) who sits on a throne of bayonets."