New US commander in Afghanistan 'wants more British troops'

[Turborama]

Source: Telegraph

Gen McChrystal used a BBC interview to suggest he wants more British forces in Afghanistan in the years ahead, putting pressure on Gordon Brown to find more money for the military.

The Daily Telegraph revealed last month that Mr Brown has blocked a permanent increase on the number of British troops in Afghanistan, rejecting MoD plans for a new deployment that would have taken British numbers to around 10,000.

The decision has irked some British commanders, who fear it will reduce UK influence over the American-led mission in Afghanistan.

Gen McChrystal said: "I don't know a general that wouldn't like to see more forces, especially forces as good as the British forces are. This is not an American only war." The British deployment in Afghanistan is "one of the essential pillars" of the international mission there, he said. "To me it's very important."

Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/5515852/New-US-commander-in-Afghanistan-wants-more-British-troops.html

[CTM1978]

1. Brown should tell the US to FUCK OFF!!!

[MellowDem]

2. You're right...

Just like we said to the British during WW2 until we were attacked ourselves. When Britain was in trouble, we said "fuck off!" How nice of us.

Considering Afghanistan is a NATO mission and one with a much more solid grounding than Iraq, I don't see any problem with asking for more troops. They don't have to say yes, but I'll doubt they'll be as idiotic as you suggest.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MellowDem]

7. If you really want to go back...

you could blame Britain for a lot of this as well, not to mention Iraq. After all, how did these nations form to begin with? Who drew the arbitrary lines in the sand? Britain has a lot more to answer for than any other nation on Earth really. In their case, CENTURIES of imperalist warfare has not only come back to bite Britain in the ass, but the whole world in general. Just look at India and Pakistan.

We're not in Afghanistan for oil. We wouldn't be there if not for 9/11. Afghanistan has been noted for its strategic pipeline location, but I can assure you oil is not the main impetus. We will have spent far more money in Afghanistan than can ever be repaid by oil or any other income, and it won't be ours anyways.

[Joey Liberal]

3. Not the General's place to make that request

I was suspicious of McChrystal after the Tillman scandal. Now I think he was a very poor choice for this command. I think he's a good soldier. You don't make it through ranger and special forces training without being a good soldier, but I think he's a lousy officer.

[pennylane100]

4. As a duel citizen I think the UK should do more.

Only because Blair helped get us in the mess in Iraq instead of going after the real enemy in Afghanistan. Both countries had idiots leading their countries and they both should pay the price for taking the eye off the ball.

[Joey Liberal]

5. Dual citizen? Cool! nt