The William Aldridge Foundation

Without prejudice and in my humble opinion...

Following the breaking news of British Troops to be withdrawn from the Sangin area of Afghanistan (www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jul/06/britis...thdrawal-afghanistan) and perhaps now the new Coalition Government has had some time to settle into number 10 Downing Street, it is time to re-raise the issues of whether our troops should remain in Afghanistan, question what real progress has been made and what the party leaders intend to do to better serve & protect our Armed Forces and their families?

It is time to reflect on the pre-election campaign, in what was described as a "conspiracy of silence" over the many issues surrounding Afghanistan.

Please read the article in the link below:
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/a...silence-1947857.html

It was claimed by all Parties, that discussing such issues, would neither win or lose votes either way! Strong public opinion at the time to withdraw troops, following the ever increasing number of deaths, reports of ill-equiped Forces on the ground and little Government support for those returning, their families or the bereaved did not seem to feature in any of their manifestos and was not open for debate...

With no clear winner following the elections perhaps this attitude was a little naive?

Almost a year to the day after losing my own son to a series of I.E.D explosions, in Afghanistan, I ask myself a series of questions: - "What has really changed?" "What, if any, improvements have been made?" "Are greater safety measures employed to better protect our Forces on the ground?" "What progress has been made to stabalise the country?" "How many more families will suffer the consequences of this conflict?" "How many more Service Personnel will spend the rest of their lives living with life-changing injuries or enduring psychological trauma?" "What will be done to stop the spiralling number of deaths?" "Has our presence in Afghanistan heightened or lessened the risk of terrorist attack to Great Britain?" ...... the list is both endless and torturous!

Although I am loathe to quote statistics, they do have value in highlighting fact.
In November of 2006 the number of British deaths was recorded as 41, following 5 years of Military presence in Afghanistan, just 3 1/2 years later that figure had risen by a further 240!

During 2009 119 Servicemen & women lost their lives as a direct result of this conflict. My sons own death and that of his comrades saw the number of deaths in Afghanistan exceed the total number of deaths recorded as a result of the conflict in Iraq.

In less than a year this country has witnessed two further milestones - the 200th & 300th death toll, which has since rapidly been exceeded - currently standing at 311(more than the number of lives lost during the Falklands conflict!!)

These statistics can be seen by following the link below (which also indicates the numbers of injured, which are seldom publicised):
www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2009/se...wounded-british-data

These statistics speak for themselves!
Do we not deserve some more definative answers on the issues surrounding Afghanistan from the Government? Isn't it time we were given a considered strategy and time-scale for troops to remain? Shouldn't our Armed Forces be given the highest level of priority in both dedicated & greater safety measures employed to the Forces on the ground while they remain engaged and priority support for those who return for however long it is required?

This conflict is costing far too much in human suffering and simply cannot continue without heed to public opinion.

Please join in the debate and post your thoughts. This debate serves to guage a cross-section of current public opinion.

*We respectfully request you ensure your posts are polite, considered and relevant. Posts which contain any levels of direct abuse/racism or riddicule individuals will not be tolerated and removed immediately - please be respectful of the fact, this debate may be viewed/participated in by bereaved families or those who have been injured themselves in this current conflict* Thank you for your co-operation

A great discussion topic Lucy and surely to invite some answers, I'm sure.

Personal opinion leads me to the conclusion, that we are loosing far too many, and for what?

- To prevent 9/11's and the like when we cannot even have our own police force stop radical demonstrations on our own streets?
- When we are letting debate happen about mosques at the site of 9/11?

Governments have gone totally mad, and it certainly shouldn't be their decision either, anymore - just the above has proved their incompetence already, no?

Maybe it's about time Britian and America stopped trying to overcome and police the world, and discovered how to re-do it for their own people; properly!

Off soapbox! lol. x

it is good news that our troops are to be withdrawn from Sangin but sadly it will mean that they will be redeployed to another area that being the nature of the beast....and inevitably there will be more casualties and deaths

whether our troops should remain there is a difficult one to answer, should we pull our troops out does that mean that all those that have already sacrificed their lives at the behest of our government have died for nothing!!!!

It is time that this countrys troops were no longer being sent to "fetch" the imaginary naughty bad man and his big bad weapons. This country for that read Government must stop seeing itself as the worlds policeman and interfering in what is none of our business and started to look after its own people,protect our own borders and fight the enemy within without fear of the PC brigade.

Our Troops will ALWAYS be supported by us in whatever role our Governement decides that they should be used in....however, that does not mean that the Government is supported in their decisions.....it's time the people of this country said to the government that these descisions are not theirs alone to be made.........our Troops are on the line and in the end for what???

I never believed they should be there in the first place. Iraq was about oil and Afghanistan about narcotics.

No amount of talking or figting will change the mindset of the Taliban- they believe 100% that the way they live is the only way to live.

How many more lives have to be lost before there is a complete withdrawal of troops? Are we more at risk of terrorist attacks for being in a country where we are hated? I understand that many people want the troops there to keep them safe but what of the fit, healthy and able men of their country that are living in ours, many on benefits. Should they not be standing with the men in there own country, fighting for the country that they love so much instead of being allowed to live here at taxpayers expense and be allowed to protest in the street when our brave forces are welcomed home from their tour off duty

Its only weeks since we reached the 300th death, already we are moving towards 320. Very little mention is made of the thousands that are coming home with life changing injuries that see them invalided out of the forces and then made homeless. Not even given priority on housing lists though they have fought for their country.

Bringing all our forces home seems the only choice unless we want to stay forever and count the cost of the shattered lives in the ripple effect of one life being taken.

Everyone was shocked at the images of theTsunami years ago, hard hitting because there were so many killed in one place. This is a tunsami too and the government don't care

The statistics for the number of troops killed speak for themselves. The Government has a duty of care to give our boys the urgent priority to do the job.

Ther cost of this war in human lives, is now much greater than we could ever imagine. This Goverment must listen to the nation who's sons, husbands, & uncles who are putting their lives on the line for a war we cannot win..