Hutton enters Afghan troops row


The government insists the UK military has never been so well resourced

The mood among UK troops in Afghanistan is "unequivocal" on the need for more manpower and resources, former defence secretary John Hutton has said. A review of troop levels was needed and could not wait for an autumn review, he wrote in a Sunday Telegraph article.
Mr Hutton also told the BBC ministers had a "fundamental responsibility" to grant military equipment requests.
The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said the remarks put pressure on Gordon Brown, who has said troops are well resourced.
Mr Hutton's comments come just two days after Chief of Defence Staff Sir Jock Stirrup met the prime minister with a "shopping list" of equipment needed for Afghanistan.
The meeting followed calls from head of the British army, Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, for better equipment to protect troops from roadside bombs.
Sir Richard has also previously called for more British, American or Afghan "boots on the ground".
More helicopters?
In his article, Mr Hutton, who quit the cabinet last month, said he supported the government's strategy of stabilising Afghanistan and said without international security presence it would "probably already be back under Taleban and al-Qaeda control".
Britain's military effort had increased steadily since it began playing a leading role in 2006 and investment in equipment had also improved, he said.

The best way to speed up our exit is to train effective Afghan security forces who can take over


John Hutton
Former defence secretary

However, in order to achieve the goal of allowing the Afghan government to operate in a safer and more sustainable environment, it was "going to take more resources", he argued.
"It is clear we need more logistical support to reduce the risk of as much of the troop movements and supply effort as possible," he wrote.
Mr Hutton went on to acknowledge that the government was looking to make more helicopters available and that he was sure discussions were also taking place over whether more troops were needed.
But he continued: "The mood on the ground is unequivocal - more resources in each of these areas would be helpful.
"This review of British troop levels cannot wait until October, as has been suggested."
There has been criticism that the government is failing to give troops adequate air support.
Failure 'not option'
Mr Hutton also called for more support from the UK's European allies in Nato, such as in training Afghan police and soldiers.
"The best way to speed up our exit is to train effective Afghan security forces who can take over," he said. "This will require more trainers on the ground as well as more money.
"If countries cannot commit people for this training mission they should be asked to commit money instead."
Failure in Afghanistan was "simply not an option", Mr Hutton warned.
"The Taliban know they cannot beat us on the battlefield. Their only tactic is to outlast us; to hope that we give up and walk away," he said.
"If we do that then the risk they pose to our national security will not go away. It would inevitably increase. We must not allow that to happen."
In an earlier interview on the BBC's Straight Talk programme, Mr Hutton argued ministers had a duty of care to British troops and must always grant requests for more resources.
"When they say they want something, when they say they need something, then they get it. That is a fundamental part of the responsibility of government," he said.
Some 185 UK service personnel have now died in Afghanistan since 2001 - more than the 179 who were killed during the war in Iraq.
The government has indicated there will be a review of troop numbers, both at UK and Nato level, in Afghanistan in the autumn.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8157786.stm