Afghanistan fallen statistics are appalling

Editorial Department • Published 8 Jul 2010 16:00 0 Comments

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Dear Sir, - In the last century, when the world was ruled by statesmen, there was less said and more achieved by 'actions speaking louder than words'. Nowadays politicians cannot resist the television cameras and microphones to make the latest off-the-cuff remark and sound-bite in response to daily questioning by a superabundance of media interviewers and commentators.

The statesman-like leader would occasionally have come out with a memorable, quotable quote, like that attributed to the British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, 'There are three kinds of lies, lies, damned lies and statistics.'

The lies of George W. Bush and Tony Blair led to the illegal invasion of Iraq. Their damned lies again embroiled us in the killing grounds of Afghanistan. They stirred up a deadly hornets' nest in Iraq and ordered British troops, badly equipped and under-resourced, 'out of the frying pan and into the fire' of Afghanistan.

There is nothing appealing about our presence in Afghanistan; and the statistics are appalling. In 1979 to 1989, the Soviet Forces lost some fifteen thousand soldiers and KGB personnel killed. In the First Anglo-Afghan War of 1839 to 1842, the British lost sixteen thousand in one massacre. In the nineteenth century, the Russians and British vied with one another for influence in Afghanistan; and there was death and destruction for decades in what was known as 'The Great Game'.

The present Afghanistan conflict seems to have degenerated into a numbers game. US President Obama wants troop withdrawals to commence in July next year, so as to be underway before he stands for a second term in 2012. Prime Minister Cameron says our troops 'can't be there for another five years,' so as to be on their way home before the next UK General Election.

Are our troops being used as pawns in a political game? There is insufficient gain to justify the pain. In other countries wiser counsels have prevailed. The Dutch are withdrawing troops this year, the Canadians in 2011, and the Poles in 2012.

When the English football team was defeated by Germany, they were brought home in defeat. Whilst our forces have shown great bravery coupled with a high standard of professionalism, they are in a no-win situation, and have been in Afghanistan for nearly nine years. They should be brought home sooner rather than later.

Yours faithfully,

Neil C. Oliver, LL B

Castle Toppy

114 Crawfordsburn Road

Newtownards.

This letter appeared in Impartial Reporter 08 Jul 10

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