David Miliband

Foreign Secretary

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Tuesday 25 November, 2008

En route to Helmand

Kabul now has blackberry coverage. This is written on the way to Kabul airport. I am travelling to Lashkar Gar with Foreign Minister Spanta - to meet British diplomats and military personnel as well as units of the Afghan National Army.

The news of a further British death in the north of Helmand - the victim of an explosive device - shows how much we ask of our people. This country needs us until they have security forces that can repel Taleban attacks on the integrity of the state. So the mission is clearly defined; and so is the rationale - that Afghanistan was an incubator for terrorism in the 1990s with disastrous effects. I tried to use an interview with the Today programme to set out in an open way the dilemmas and difficulties but also the forward strategy:  

Posted at 22:58 25 November 2008 by David Miliband  |  Comments[12]

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David Miliband in surprise visit to Kabul, Why I call for your visit to Afghanistan as a surprise visit, more details is on my blog: http://afghancitizen.blogspot.com/2008/11/david-miliband-in-surprise-visit-to.html

Posted by Baktash on November 26, 2008 at 07:28 AM GMT #

The country does not need British security, it needs the Afghans to start talking to each other. Karzai wants to talk to the Taliban, a very practical solution. The Americans on the other hand want to fire cruise missiles at Pakistan, and send over predators. Their stratety seems to be about keeping the conflict going as long as possible so that they continue to keep a military presense in that part of the world. The Brits just go along with the Yanks, pretending to have influence but having very little. The sooner we get out the better.

Posted by Stu on November 26, 2008 at 01:51 PM GMT #

First of all, I agree with the Foreign Secretary that security problems in Afghanistan should now be handled by the Afghan National Army and the police. But how, reliable are these security forces ideologically and religiously speaking? The war there is all about ideology and religion. I also find it hard to believe that our troops there have no air support. This is odd. If the troops there have to stay longer then I recommend an increase in pay, most especially, hazard pay.

Posted by Jay Conrad A. Sarenas on November 26, 2008 at 03:16 PM GMT #

I also believe that the Taleban would never give up. Peace talks have already collapsed. If I'm not mistaken. I believe 90 of them would die for Allah rather than sign some kind of agreement or peace treaty. I see them as a kind of Pharisee where the rule of law is absolute. On another note, I found out that the economy of Afghanistan seems to be sustaining a strong growth rate, despite ongoing problems. So we might have some hope here because there's somethingr we can work on. Natural gas and oil seems to be untapped and drug manufacture is popular. One of the solutions then here could be in the economic arena.

Posted by Jay Conrad A. Sarenas on November 26, 2008 at 03:23 PM GMT #

So these three natural oil, gas, and drug manufacture could be one of the comprehensive plans, to at least, slowly stabilize the situation there. An immediate and rapid change would probably be disastrous. May I suggest a slower, and gradual change for the better. Strange as it may sound and despite legal implications. I believe opium poppy production should be encouraged in Afghanistan. Opium has many uses, if we have control of this product then not only do we help the situation we could also fund our continued stay there among other things.

Posted by Jay Conrad A. Sarenas on November 26, 2008 at 03:31 PM GMT #

The addition of equipment of a military nature, such as, mine detecting equipment is helpful but it will only scratch the surface. Better and additional patrols to detect and perhaps neutralize car bombs and suicide bombers are also helpful. Sometimes, it is unavoidable that loss of life occur despite the best security measures.

Posted by Jay Conrad A. Sarenas on November 26, 2008 at 03:40 PM GMT #

The Taleban also seems to be becoming an insurgency threat rather than a terrorist threat, at least for now. They are switching their strategy from direct confrontation to hitting from a distance. Could hit and run tactics not be far behind? Their spring offensive also did not occur. Could this herald the way out for the Taleban? Personally, I am against a direct, massive push against the Taleban. This means a rapid change and a void could be created leading to chaos and disorder. I suppose the Taleban still has some supporters. Of course, if we withdraw completely we create that void which will be filled in by local security forces. Provided, that they are ideologically and religiously fit.

Posted by Jay Conrad A. Sarenas on November 26, 2008 at 03:52 PM GMT #

I personally hope that the situation in Afghanistan would not worsen with the death of British soldiers there. More to come.

Posted by Jay Conrad A. Sarenas on November 26, 2008 at 03:55 PM GMT #

I agree with the Foreign Secretary that we should withdraw our troops from Afghanistan. But this should be gradual and provided of course that the Afghan National Army and the Police are ideologically and religiously fit. This is part of the comprehensive plan for Afghanistan which I posted earlier : Military, Economic, and Political. Let's hope for the best that the situation there will stabilize soon.

Posted by Jay Conrad A. Sarenas on November 27, 2008 at 05:18 AM GMT #

Kabul has blackberry yippieeeeee, it now has over 100 british KIA's also, you must be so proud miliband of what you and all the other zanu Nu Liebour quislings have achieved and all on a shoe string budget as well if you keep on staving our troops of the correct equipment who knows you might reach 200 KIA's or more since you keep telling us how our troops might have to stay for quite a long time so fingers crossed.

Posted by Dave on November 28, 2008 at 08:55 PM GMT #

who pays for the Blackberry bill? Oh that will be us then... whilst the troops are paid pittance and in some cases giving up their lives for need of better equipment.

Posted by Tom on December 02, 2008 at 04:14 AM GMT #

Military, Economic, and Political. Let's hope for the best that the situation there will stabilize soon.

Posted by oyun on January 16, 2010 at 09:23 PM GMT #

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