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Clegg queries Afghanistan tactics Clegg queries Afghanistan tactics
(about 5 hours later)
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has claimed the government refused a request to send more troops to Afghanistan for political reasons.Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has claimed the government refused a request to send more troops to Afghanistan for political reasons.
Alleging the army's demand for an extra 2,000 troops were turned down, Mr Clegg said the military were not getting the "political backing" they deserved. Alleging the Army's demand for an extra 2,000 troops was turned down, Mr Clegg said the military were not getting the "political backing" they deserved.
While he insists he supports the mission's aims, he said troops were operating in a "political vacuum". While he insisted he supported the mission's aims, he said troops were operating in a "political vacuum".
Seven UK service personnel have been killed in Afghanistan in the past week.Seven UK service personnel have been killed in Afghanistan in the past week.
'Not in vain''Not in vain'
Ministers stress they will do everything to ensure that the army has the necessary resources to operate in Afghanistan but have warned further losses are inevitable. Ministers stress they will do everything to ensure that the Army has the necessary resources to operate in Afghanistan but have warned further losses are inevitable.
The UK sent an extra 800 troops earlier this year to provide additional security ahead of next month's elections, taking total troop numbers to nearly 9,000.The UK sent an extra 800 troops earlier this year to provide additional security ahead of next month's elections, taking total troop numbers to nearly 9,000.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
Mr Clegg has become the most senior politician to question whether the government has the political will to see through its military campaign in Afghanistan.Mr Clegg has become the most senior politician to question whether the government has the political will to see through its military campaign in Afghanistan.
Amid growing questions over UK strategy, Mr Clegg said casualties were a inevitable fact of war but the government must show the sacrifices of troops "have not been in vain". Amid growing questions over UK strategy, Mr Clegg said casualties were a inevitable fact of war but the government had to show the sacrifices of troops "have not been in vain".
He told the BBC that, "by all accounts", Gordon Brown made a "deliberate decision" not to send more troops because he was "worried by the domestic political reaction".He told the BBC that, "by all accounts", Gordon Brown made a "deliberate decision" not to send more troops because he was "worried by the domestic political reaction".
The failure to provide the necessary resources, in terms of troops numbers and equipment, were a "betrayal" of the "courage and dedication" of troops risking their lives. The failure to provide the necessary resources, in terms of troops numbers and equipment, was a "betrayal" of the "courage and dedication" of troops risking their lives.
'Muddle''Muddle'
"I think we are putting the troops in the worst of all worlds, putting them in harm's way - willing the ends, if you like, but not the means.""I think we are putting the troops in the worst of all worlds, putting them in harm's way - willing the ends, if you like, but not the means."
He said there was "no evidence" of an overarching strategy linking military progress to reconstruction and aid efforts and this was undermining the fight against the Taliban.He said there was "no evidence" of an overarching strategy linking military progress to reconstruction and aid efforts and this was undermining the fight against the Taliban.
"You cannot fight a war by muddle. You have got to do it properly or not do it at all.""You cannot fight a war by muddle. You have got to do it properly or not do it at all."
Britain had been "bailed out" by the US, which had sent its own forces into Helmand Province, where the UK and US are conducting a major offensive against the Taliban.Britain had been "bailed out" by the US, which had sent its own forces into Helmand Province, where the UK and US are conducting a major offensive against the Taliban.
"Gordon Brown has got to stop pretending this is somebody's else conflict.""Gordon Brown has got to stop pretending this is somebody's else conflict."
Mr Clegg emphasised that he had been keen to maintain the cross-party consensus on Afghanistan, formed after the 11 September attacks.Mr Clegg emphasised that he had been keen to maintain the cross-party consensus on Afghanistan, formed after the 11 September attacks.
But he said had been concerned by the growing casualty numbers in recent weeks and whether they could have been prevented.But he said had been concerned by the growing casualty numbers in recent weeks and whether they could have been prevented.
Casualty concernsCasualty concerns
He said two recent victims - Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe and Trooper Joshua Hammond - were killed while travelling in a vehicle "unable to withstand a roadside bomb".He said two recent victims - Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe and Trooper Joshua Hammond - were killed while travelling in a vehicle "unable to withstand a roadside bomb".
"If you send people to war you must supply the resources they need, or you should not send them at all," he told the Daily Telegraph."If you send people to war you must supply the resources they need, or you should not send them at all," he told the Daily Telegraph.
"Otherwise you are betraying that fundamental covenant between a nation and its armed forces.""Otherwise you are betraying that fundamental covenant between a nation and its armed forces."
Nato must rethink its strategy with a "single individual or institution" being tasked with co-ordinating both military and civilian efforts, Mr Clegg added.Nato must rethink its strategy with a "single individual or institution" being tasked with co-ordinating both military and civilian efforts, Mr Clegg added.
This must include renewed efforts to clamp down on corruption "at all levels".This must include renewed efforts to clamp down on corruption "at all levels".
"If the Taliban are to be defeated, the Afghan people need to learn to trust state institutions - a huge challenge in a country that never had effective central government.""If the Taliban are to be defeated, the Afghan people need to learn to trust state institutions - a huge challenge in a country that never had effective central government."
The latest death on Tuesday takes the number of soldiers to die in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion to 176.The latest death on Tuesday takes the number of soldiers to die in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion to 176.
On Wednesday, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth defended the government's strategy in the country and warned more lives would be lost.On Wednesday, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth defended the government's strategy in the country and warned more lives would be lost.
And Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman said the mission was vital to preventing the spread of terrorism, both in the region and further afield.And Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman said the mission was vital to preventing the spread of terrorism, both in the region and further afield.
The Conservatives have said they back the mission's aims but insist the strategy must be clarified.The Conservatives have said they back the mission's aims but insist the strategy must be clarified.