General Dannatt travelled around Afghanistan in a US Black Hawk helicopter as there were insufficient British aircraft available. (Graham Meggitt, Royal Navy HO/AP)Dannatt Warns Of Strategic Failure In Afghanistan As 16th Soldier Dies In A Month -- Times Online
The head of the Army warned of strategic failure in Afghanistan today as it was announced that another British soldier had died in Helmand province.
General Sir Richard Danatt, who has been accused of playing politics over the issue of equipment, demanded more troops and greater investment as part of a shopping list of desires.
His plea was broadcast minutes before the Ministry of Defence said that a soldier from 2nd Battalion The Rifles was killed during a foot patrol in Helmand yesterday. Sixteen British soldiers have been killed this month.
General Danatt said: “Quite rightly if we carry on with the kind of casualty numbers we saw last week the people of our own country might say hold on this is not a price worth paying.”
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My Comment: The U.K. General is seeing the tipping point for his forces in Afghanistan. He has made it very clear that they cannot sustain (politically and militarily) the casualty rate in this war. I expect more pressure to bear when the Canadians (who operate next door to the British) pull out as scheduled in 2011, and the U.S. start to debate their own role in Afghanistan.