Liam Fox insists we cannot abandon Afghanistan

The defence secretary says that to leave early would be to betray the sacrifices of our fallen soldi

By New Statesman Published 01 July 2010

Defence secretary Liam Fox has said that there can be no thought of British troops leaving Afghanistan "before the job is finished". He went on to say that an early withdrawal would be a betrayal of the sacrifices of British soldiers who have given their lives in the conflict.

His remarks, made as part of a speech to the Heritage Foundation in Washington, form a marked contrast with David Cameron's pledge just days ago that all British troops would be withdrawn by 2015.

He also warned that an early withdrawal could result in an increased threat of global terrorism, saying that to bring the troops home too soon would "send the signal that we did not have the moral resolve and political fortitude to see through what we ourselves have described as a national security imperative."

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5 comments

Mon, 2010-08-23 11:21 — maddy (not verified)

Gideon PolyaI, we loose both ways here! Our Anglo- Saxon advances in medicine has created unsustainable growth rates, witness the twenty million living on the Indus flood plain. Inversely the Pakistan primitive religion and life style precludes any real advancement. You are bonkers, what is the point in comparing primitive people in 2010 Pakistan with 1939, affluent Polish Christian people? More to the point s there anybody from Fox's family actually doing any fighting out there? Conversely we need all our serving Judges out there for war experience perhaps serving a term as assistant medics before they pronounce judgment on our fighting men!

Thu, 2010-07-01 16:21 — Bruce (not verified)

From BBC News today - 'Speaking on Thursday, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said he would be "very surprised" if Afghan forces had not taken control of their own security from international forces by 2014.'
Most people, including Stanley McChrystal, will be very surprised if the Taliban had not taken control of security by 2014.

Fri, 2010-07-02 15:29 — irishmuffin (not verified)

The logic of the Fox argument is that more British soldiers have to die to honour the memory of those who have died already. Reductio ad absurdum.

Thu, 2010-07-01 12:23 — Ken Martell (not verified)

The question is about tactics - This is the reason why we are taking a high level of casualities.
Why do the commanders on the ground allow the troops to patrol on foot in the centre of a Mine Field.
There are other ways to cover the area better protected.
Are the winning of hearts and minds worth the losses.

Thu, 2010-07-01 17:00 — Gideon Polya

What does UK Defence secretary Liam Fox mean by saying that the UK should stay in Afghanistan "until the job is finished"?

According to the UN Population Division data post-invasion under-5 infant deaths in Occupied Afghanistan total 2.4 million (90% avoidable and due to war criminal, US Alliance-imposed deprivation in gross violation of the Geneva Convention ) and there are currently 5.2 million under-5 year old infants in Occupied Afghanistan - do the Tory-Liberal Democrats want to "finish" the job and kill the whole lot?

Similarly, post-invasion non-violent deaths from war criminal, US Alliance-imposed deprivation in Occupied Afghanistan total 3.4 million (about 50% female and 75% women and children) but the surviving population totals 29.1 million. How many more Afghan women and children do the US Alliance have to passively murder "before the job is finished"?

The annual death rate is 7% for under-5 year old infants in US Alliance-occupied Afghanistan as compared to 4% for Poles in Nazi-occupied Poland and 5% for Jews in Nazi-occupied France (see "Polish Holocaust, Afghan Holocaust and Western Holocaust Denial": http://www.countercurrents.org/polya170410.htm ).

Tough job being a defence secretary and defending Western civilization from Afghan women and children.

A century ago British women chained themselves to the railings for female suffrage - yet today barely a pip from British women about the the horrendous mass murder of Afghan women and children by the genocidal US Alliance (see "Afghan Holocaust, Afghan Genocide": http://sites.google.com/site/afghanholocaustafghangenocide/ ).