UK Ministry of Defence,
Defence Secretary Des Browne has responded to criticism in yesterday's Daily Telegraph newspaper which claims that the Ministry of Defence has no clear strategy on the Afghanistan mission and also that the MOD is refusing to award a special medal to soldiers fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Responding to the criticism Mr Browne, who recently returned from a visit to the country, issued the following letter to the Daily Telegraph:
“Your editorial on Afghanistan misses the mark again. You accuse me of being too focused on Scotland despite the fact that I spent all of last week in Afghanistan – the fourth time I have been there since I took up the job of Defence Secretary.
“You say that the government does not understand why we are in Afghanistan – but I am absolutely clear why our troops are in Afghanistan; no-one who sees the magnificent work they are doing at first hand could not be. We are there because the people of Afghanistan need us and their Government wants us. They want help to defeat the Taliban, to build the structures needed to govern and care for their people and to help beat the evil of narcotics. This is vital in safeguarding the UK against the threat of terrorism. John Reid spoke plainly about this is in 2006, so forgive me if I consider your exhortations a little behind the pace.
“Your own position is less clear, as are your 'facts'. We are not suffering the same casualty rates as World War II. You quoted a figure of 10 per cent when the true figure was closer to 3 per cent. Yesterday you said the chances of dying are 1 in 36, again completely misleading. By contrast I have been committed to being straight about the human cost to the forces and the UK of our task in Afghanistan. I am deeply saddened by every death and injury. I was in a Forward Operating Base in Gereshk last week and I was truly humbled by the bravery of the soldiers there, who face these risks with such a clear sense of purpose that your talk of confusion is simply insulting. Afghanistan is the biggest UK military deployment and has one of our largest Embassies. We know how crucial this country is.
“On the subject of medals a quick check on the detail would allow you to be more balanced. It is the military chain of command that considers whether a medal is deserved. They are the only ones qualified to make such an assessment. The Chiefs of Staff consider the case and the Chief of Defence Staff then takes this recommendation to a cross-Whitehall committee, which forwards it to The Queen for approval. To undermine this by instituting a medal driven by media or political pressure does a great disservice to a large number of people who have earned the right to wear their medals, including the existing Afghanistan medal. I trust the judgment of the leadership of the Armed Forces. There should be no doubt that our people are getting the recognition they deserve.
“This Government is clear on Afghanistan. I look forward to the day the Daily Telegraph is too.”
