A poll for the BBC has indicated that the vast majority of the public want British troops to be withdrawn from Afghanistan within the next year.
Since the Taliban were ousted in 2001, 124 British soldiers have been killed, with two Royal Marines becoming the latest casualties when their convoy was hit by an explosion on Wednesday.
Defence Secretary John Hutton says it is more important than ever that the 8,000 British troops remain in the country to fight the resurgent Taliban, saying it is vital to British security and interests.
On a trip to London with President Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan’s foreign minister has said more international forces were needed while U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has promised to send in more U.S. troops.
Do you think British troops should stay in Afghanistan? Send us your comments.
Trackback
55 comments so far
Previous | 3 | 2 | 1 | Next
I think all the british troops should all come home from afghanistan because it is making even more trouble them being out there, they shouldnt of even went there in the first place.Please bring them back they have been there to long now. I wish there was no wars anymore and all the men/ladys would come home safe to there familys they have done more than enough for us!They deserve more than that!!!!
- Posted by georgiaTrain the Iraqi security forces to support themselves and get out of Iraq. Provide them with air cover and logistics if required. Afghanistan is a different story. Its geography requires a strong presence of international troops in order to mop up weapons and convince warlords to align with the Kabul government. Continuous air support should be provided and the requested number of troops should be deployed. Aid the government with civil constructions of roads and bridges which will enable ground level communication. This will also employ locals who otherwise have to turn to the Taliban for employment.
- Posted by MaheshOil is involved in the Afghan invasion. There is oil in the old ’stans of the USSR. To get it to a deep water Pacific port a pipeline through Afghanistan is the only way. This is the only reason Obama is wanting to increase troops.
As long ago as the 90’s Unocal was duchessing the Taliban in Texas. However, the Taliban could not guarantee the safety of the pipeline. So the Taliban had to go. This is an ongoing struggle of the US to safeguard their oil interests in the region. They can’t sell to Russia or Europe. Their only market in that area is the Pacific rim.
There are three reasons why UK and Australian troops are deployed in Afghanistan, oil, oil and oil!!!
- Posted by LorraineAlexander the Great left Afghanistan
- Posted by Sid HolderThe Romans left Afghanistan
The British Empire left Afghanistan
The USSR left Afghanistan
George Bush didn’t
Learn !
I think our brave boys should come home, why are they fighting a war they can never win?
- Posted by VirginiaNo we must not leave. However, do feel that our troops need to have the best equipment for the work they have to do. This includes more helicoptors, better transport - including armour - and total tax exemption while in the field plus the best medical and health care upon their return to the UK - any treatment they require needs to be given the highest priority without regard to cost or the needs of ordinary NHS clients.
Our nation has a job to finish and no matter how long it takes finish we must but let us ensure that our troops are the best equiped and best supported.
- Posted by Keith GormanWe are there to prevent Al-Qaeda flourish with a safe haven by the Taliban.
We are also there by request of the Afgan government as part of a UN force. This is a worthy cause, no oil, no minerals. But to prevent terrorism from being harboured in the country.
If we don’t restrain the Taliban now we will never. Also if we pull out now, the devastation and human toll to the Afgahn people will on a major scale, and we will have let them down for no good reason other than we are running scared!
Things like this will happen every day http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_a sia/7747621.stm
That will mean our Soldiers and can I add Aid workers will have died for nothing. You may be able to turn your back in fear…but I and many fellow soldiers will not.
We went to do a job, a UN job….and we will not give up and lot our people give there lives for nothing.
- Posted by Stackayes i agree bring our boys home, theres been to many deaths, we will never win
- Posted by Di8,000 troops? The question should be when will Britian deploy their share. We know the French are wimps and don’t expect help from them or Germany, but I would think Britian understands what will happen if the everyone withdraws. The U.S. will not withdraw and will finish the job once again. When will Europe realize that being passive and sticking your head in the sand only gives the enemy time to build up and get stronger.
- Posted by Bryan StewartI guess this has been asked a dozen times before but,,,,,, What are we doing there?? surley there are good enough reasons already to get out now.. The French have tried , so have we a century ago ( at the cost of many lives) and even the Russians were badly defeated. We must stop meddling. There surly are no valid reasons why good hounerable servicemen and women should be put in the line of fire. Is there anything that comes out of Afhganistan apart for the opium. Or, is it that we , the britsh are the main users and buyers??? It seems to get onto the streets in the uk easier than prescrption medication. Can that be acceptable..
- Posted by roy oatenHaving served in the British army for 15 years I am sorry to see that we are again in an overseas conflict where our troops are being killed daily. Whilst the army is under the control of politicians and not the army commanders there will never be a satisfactory end to our ‘WAR’. I am very proud of our troops and they way they conduct themselves in a conflict that is never going to be put to rest. We should remember that before our invasion of Afghanistan we had spent years in training and the arming of the people to fight the invading army of the Soviet Union, now we are the invading army.
- Posted by GlynWe have only just had our remembrance day and we have moved ‘nowhere’ we are still in a war and troops are still being killed. The main reference to the remembrance service is ‘least we forget’.
Until we can have a time of peace, we have forgotten all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and those who will continue to make that sacrifice.
Let the politicians who put us unto conflict be the one to fight the battles and there would be NO wars again.
To even consider bring troops out of Afghanistan is a idiotic concept.
Problem is the UK is full of experts in nothing, Afghanistan is NOT a Iraq. It is a justifiable conflict which in part has a major affect in global security. The Taliban has a effect on every citizen in ever town in every country of the world.
Secondly, retreating from such conflict would aid the fundamentalists belief that they are winning by terror. I have lost very very close friends and family and I still stand by what I believe is true.
Please educate yourself about the conflict before casting aspersions.
- Posted by StackaThe special relationship between Great Britain and our US ally would be at risk if we were to withdraw our brave troops from Afghanistan.
- Posted by marcoRecently Gordon Brown sent a message to pesident elect Barrack Obama stating that Britain is not prepared to commit any more troops as we are already somewhat overstretched. Barack Obama wants Britain to commit more troops and he wants France to send in their troops but the French seem reluctant to obey. Britain will continue to be an American puppet regime and don’t even think about protesting like a bunch of pacifist cowards.
The troops should never have been sent out there, gross incompetence on our Governments part
It time the UK stopped following the US around and sort out its own economic and domestic problems
Bring these young men back home, before we loose any more lives, and I suggest we think twice about sending troops to another country
- Posted by SinghThe Troops should all be brought home–they are out there fighting having been sent by a government that cannot, ney, refuses, to even identify the ideology that is causing the trouble
- Posted by tommyknow your enemy before you commit
Look at Iraq–fighting for democracy only to find they don’t want a democracy just sharia
Bring in compulsory military service for MPs