Overstretched British troops deserve certainty over deployment in Iraq

April 24th, 2008 by Defence Team — Iraq, Welfare

Commenting on Des Browne’s announcement today that British troop numbers in Iraq will only be reduced ‘if conditions allow’, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary, Nick Harvey said:

This statement fails to provide any certainty for the future of our hard-pressed forces in Iraq.

 Why did the Prime Minister rush to announce troop withdrawals last year if the situation in southern Iraq is so unpredictable?

 Our armed forces are already suffering from overstretch caused by operating in both Iraq and Afghanistan at once. How much longer can we expect them to remain in Iraq with no end in sight?

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2 comments ↓

#1 From Tina Louise

The lack of decisiveness, transparency and clear direction continue to fuel my fear of my government’s ineptitude and where it will lead….where it has already taken us and what the ongoing consequences will be for our troops, Iraq’s innocent, our country’s finances and the way we are viewed by other countries.

Our forces are not being given the consideration they each deserve as individuals and instead appear to be being treated as yet another political tool to be manipulated and spun for government aims - not for the security of our country or the aims of a safer future….all that our forces have been asked to do has worked contrary to their noble purpose.

I believe that the way this will end - will be as a result of the individuals within our forces standing up and demanding to be told truthfully their purpose. I can’t believe that when our forces signed up to a duty and career that would serve the good of their people – that they expected anything like this. In return, our forces deserve to have their mission honestly and clearly defined.

p.s.
Whilst looking for the definition of purpose that our forces sign up to (couldn’t actually find it in the end), I bumped into this (very apt) quote:

“What all the wise men promised has not happened and what all the dammed fools said would happen has come to pass”. Lord Melbourne

#2 From Jonathan Morgan

As someone who suffered mental difficulties after active service, I am concerned that those who’ve had to leave the armed forces for either physical or mental problems and have been awarded a war pension should obtain maximum benefits which might even include concessions into public amenities. I’m sure the Americans treat their injured veterans much better than we do.

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