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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| UK cautious over Afghan 'surge' | UK cautious over Afghan 'surge' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The head of the UK armed forces says a surge in Afghanistan is not a "panacea" and a reduction in "operational tempo" for UK troops is crucial. | The head of the UK armed forces says a surge in Afghanistan is not a "panacea" and a reduction in "operational tempo" for UK troops is crucial. |
| The Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, told the BBC this meant no "one-for-one" transfer of troops from Iraq to Afghanistan. | The Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, told the BBC this meant no "one-for-one" transfer of troops from Iraq to Afghanistan. |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband also said the UK did not want to shoulder an "unfair burden". | Foreign Secretary David Miliband also said the UK did not want to shoulder an "unfair burden". |
| The Tories said the rest of Nato had to play its part in Afghanistan. | The Tories said the rest of Nato had to play its part in Afghanistan. |
| In an interview with BBC One's Andrew Marr Show, Sir Jock said: "Our top priority is to deliver success, military success in both theatres (Iraq and Afghanistan), but equally I've said for a very long time that the British armed forces are stretched. | In an interview with BBC One's Andrew Marr Show, Sir Jock said: "Our top priority is to deliver success, military success in both theatres (Iraq and Afghanistan), but equally I've said for a very long time that the British armed forces are stretched. |
| I think we would all take some persuading that there would have to be a much larger British contingent there William HagueShadow foreign secretary | I think we would all take some persuading that there would have to be a much larger British contingent there William HagueShadow foreign secretary |
| "We're doing more than we are structured or resourced to do in the long term. We can do it for a short period but we can't continue doing it ad infinitum. | |
| "So we also have to get ourselves back into balance; it's crucial that we reduce the operational tempo for our armed forces, so it cannot be, even if the situation demanded it, it cannot be just a one for one transfer from Iraq to Afghanistan, we have to reduce that tempo." | "So we also have to get ourselves back into balance; it's crucial that we reduce the operational tempo for our armed forces, so it cannot be, even if the situation demanded it, it cannot be just a one for one transfer from Iraq to Afghanistan, we have to reduce that tempo." |
| "I am a little nervous when people use the word 'surge' as if this were some sort of panacea," he said. | "I am a little nervous when people use the word 'surge' as if this were some sort of panacea," he said. |
| "What we are quite clear about is that we need more military force in Afghanistan... everybody needs to do their share, we are very clear on that." | "What we are quite clear about is that we need more military force in Afghanistan... everybody needs to do their share, we are very clear on that." |
| On the same programme Mr Miliband said a troop surge - which US President-elect Barack Obama favours - would need to be combined with a "civilian surge" focusing on politics and economics. | On the same programme Mr Miliband said a troop surge - which US President-elect Barack Obama favours - would need to be combined with a "civilian surge" focusing on politics and economics. |
| He also suggested that UK troops could be leaving Iraq around next Spring. | He also suggested that UK troops could be leaving Iraq around next Spring. |
| He said: "The prime minister has made it very, very clear that there'll be a fundamental shift in the nature of our relationship with the Iraqi government after the spring of this year. | He said: "The prime minister has made it very, very clear that there'll be a fundamental shift in the nature of our relationship with the Iraqi government after the spring of this year. |
| "And that fundamental shift happens because Britain's job - which is now about training the 14th division of the Iraqi Armay will effectively be over." | "And that fundamental shift happens because Britain's job - which is now about training the 14th division of the Iraqi Armay will effectively be over." |
| Barack Obama | Barack Obama |
| Relations between the UK and Iraq would then move to what are "normal relations" between allies which "won't involve the sort of troop deployment we have got there at the moment", he added. | Relations between the UK and Iraq would then move to what are "normal relations" between allies which "won't involve the sort of troop deployment we have got there at the moment", he added. |
| Shadow foreign secretary William Hague told Sky News he believed the bulk of British troops would be pulled out of Iraq next year but warned that Britain made a "disproportionate contribution" to the Nato effort in Afghanistan. | Shadow foreign secretary William Hague told Sky News he believed the bulk of British troops would be pulled out of Iraq next year but warned that Britain made a "disproportionate contribution" to the Nato effort in Afghanistan. |
| Asked whether those troops would then be sent to Afghanistan, Mr Hague said: "The British Army is very overstretched and Britain makes a disproportionate contribution to the Nato effort in Afghanistan. | Asked whether those troops would then be sent to Afghanistan, Mr Hague said: "The British Army is very overstretched and Britain makes a disproportionate contribution to the Nato effort in Afghanistan. |
| "So I think we would all take some persuading that there would have to be a much larger British contingent there - there's already a very large British contingent." | "So I think we would all take some persuading that there would have to be a much larger British contingent there - there's already a very large British contingent." |
| He added: "We do need the rest of Nato to play its part in Afghanistan and undoubtedly it seems that Barack Obama does intend to send larger US forces and that is part of what is necessary in Afghanistan." | He added: "We do need the rest of Nato to play its part in Afghanistan and undoubtedly it seems that Barack Obama does intend to send larger US forces and that is part of what is necessary in Afghanistan." |