The William Aldridge Foundation

In today's Guardian Newspaper the reaction to news of British Troops withdrawing from Sangin brings a mixed bag of opinion....

The mother's opinion:
www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jul/07/sangin...ullout-families-view

The Defence Secretary's opinion:
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/07/lia...an-troups-deployment

Sangin resident's opinion:
www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jul/07/sangin...h-troops-afghanistan

Us Military opinion:
www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jul/07/sangin...h-troops-afghanistan

In amongst this opinion, it would seem fair to suggest we agree there is no failure on the part of the British Troops in Sangin, moreover a failure by the then British Government to furnish them with the right number of men and proper equipment to carry out their mission.

British Troops have fought long and hard paying a the highest price in blood with the bare minimum of support! Commanders on the ground repeatedly having their requests ignored!!

It is not as if there have not been a multitude of previous reports on the dangers and risks involved for British Troops in the Sangin area of Helmand province:
www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jun/21/sangin...py-town-british-army

To quote Major General Gordon Messenger, the Ministry of Defence's chief military spokesman, decribed as sensitive to criticism that so many British troops had died in vain in Sangin: "I accept there is an attachment to Sangin born of spilt blood and sacrifices, and more lives have been lost there than in any other area of operations". He added: "There will be a bit of Sangin in the bloodstream of the British army and Royal Marines." But he said that should not outweigh decisions on how capabilities should be best directed. "Commonsense overcomes emotion," said a senior army officer.

With respect Major General, an attempt to acknowledge even the most recent operational history would tell you that 'a bit of Sangin' will be most prevelant in the bloodstream of the Rifles Battalions too, who recently handed over to the Royal Marines and have also suffered the most inordinate heavy losses in this area where British Forces have been spread way too thin! .... and in response to the senior army officer who quotes: Commonsense overcomes emotion" - Try telling that to the families of the 312 servicemen and women who have given their lives - if commonsense had ever been employed in the first place, if commonsense had ever prevailed, so many mistakes would not have been made and just maybe our sons and daughters would be here to set the record straight!

There are most definately questions to be asked of the previous Labour Government for their role in denying proper funding, proper equipment or an ability to listen to Commanders on the ground begging for the most necessary and urgent equipment & men to better safeguard the lives of those defending in the most dangerous area in the world! In my opinion they refused to learn lessons from the war in Iraq and cost the lives of many more British Forces in Afghanistan. One can only pray the new Coalition Government are receptive to both Military strategists and public opinion in their decision making!

British forces' withdrawal from Afghanistan could cause surge in Taliban attacks, Nato warns
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 5:53 AM on 13th July 2010


Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1294258...s.html#ixzz0tZyX6YZJ

Its a good thing that british forces will be withdrawn form Sangin, but no matter which force is there the fatalities will be just as high (if not higher).
For ISAf forces to be effective and keeping metting their aims there needs to be soldiers there despite the level of caualties, otherwise the taliaban will push right back in.
But at the same time we shouldnt have to be faced with so many deaths in the region. Its a catch-22 but the job they do there is invauable. In a way though i'm glad british forces are pulling out - its going to spare the hearts ofmany families.