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Troops need more, says Army head Troops need more, says Army head
(about 1 hour later)
The head of the British army has called for better equipment to protect troops from roadside bombs in Afghanistan.The head of the British army has called for better equipment to protect troops from roadside bombs in Afghanistan.
General Sir Richard Dannatt told the BBC troops "needed more" and added that he would be compiling a "shopping list" of what was required. General Sir Richard Dannatt told the BBC he would compile a "shopping list" of what was required and warned that Nato may request more troops.
Gordon Brown has repeatedly insisted the Army has enough equipment and denied claims of a helicopter shortage. Gordon Brown insists the Army is properly equipped and denies a helicopter shortage.
The general's comments came shortly before the 185th British casualty of the conflict was confirmed.The general's comments came shortly before the 185th British casualty of the conflict was confirmed.
A soldier from the 2nd Battalion The Rifles died in an explosion while on foot patrol near Gereshk in central Helmand, the Ministry of Defence said.A soldier from the 2nd Battalion The Rifles died in an explosion while on foot patrol near Gereshk in central Helmand, the Ministry of Defence said.
Gen Dannatt's comments will be seen as careful "parting shots", says the BBC's defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt. Gen Dannatt's comments will be seen as careful "parting shots" from a man who leaves his role next month, the BBC's defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme Soldier dies in Afghan explosion Military doctor shortage warningFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme Soldier dies in Afghan explosion Military doctor shortage warning
They will add to the pressure on the government, which has been accused of failing to properly equip troops and refusing requests for more troops. Critics accuse the government of failing to properly equip soldiers and refusing requests for more troops.
Shadow defence secretary Dr Liam Fox has told the BBC the Conservatives would be "extremely likely" to agree to short-term requests for extra manpower if they were in office.Shadow defence secretary Dr Liam Fox has told the BBC the Conservatives would be "extremely likely" to agree to short-term requests for extra manpower if they were in office.
Gen Dannatt, who is preparing to step down as head of the British army next month, told the BBC it was "critical" to tackle the problem of improvised bombs. Gen Dannatt told the BBC it was "critical" to tackle the problem of improvised bombs.
Doing this required more coalition or Afghan personnel to build intelligence, better "overhead surveillance" of Taliban activity and more technical ability to see where they were planting explosives, he said. Doing this required more coalition or Afghan personnel to build intelligence, better "overhead surveillance" of Taliban activity and greater technical ability to see where they were planting explosives, he said.
"We need more, and that will be a shopping list that I'll bring back," he said. "That will be a shopping list that I'll bring back," he said.
"If we were to carry on the number of casualties we had last week the people of our own country might say 'hang on, I think this is a price not worth paying'. Continued heavy casualties would cause the British public to doubt the value of the mission, which would be a strategic disaster, he said.
"That would be a disaster in strategic terms."
Gen Dannatt repeated calls for the Ministry of Defence to focus its priorities towards the "land environment", away from navy and air force needs, when carving up its £34bn budget.Gen Dannatt repeated calls for the Ministry of Defence to focus its priorities towards the "land environment", away from navy and air force needs, when carving up its £34bn budget.
He has previously called for more "boots on the ground", stressing the extra resources could be British, American or Afghan, but he told the BBC that military chiefs had never made a direct request for 2,000 extra personnel. He has previously called for more British, American or Afghan "boots on the ground" but he said military chiefs had never made a direct request for 2,000 extra personnel.
On Thursday, the prime minister refused to directly confirm or deny whether this request had been received, when he appeared before the Commons liaison committee.
Extra troopsExtra troops
However, the general said Nato commanders may ask for more troops in the coming weeks. However, the general said Nato commanders may shortly present a case for a "short-term uplift" in numbers.
"There may well be a case for a... short-term uplift. Our government will have to confront it, if asked, for about 12 to 18 months until the Afghan army can get the right strength down here [in Helmand]," he said. "Our government will have to confront it, if asked, for about 12 to 18 months until the Afghan army can get the right strength down here [in Helmand]," he said.
It has been suggested that force levels could be reduced to 8,300 after elections planned for next month but that would be wrong, he added.It has been suggested that force levels could be reduced to 8,300 after elections planned for next month but that would be wrong, he added.
On Thursday, the prime minister avoided giving a direct answer to a committee of MPs as to whether he had received or rejected a request for an extra 2000 personnel in Helmand. Earlier this week, the general revealed he was being flown around Helmand in an American helicopter because no British alternative was available.
Earlier this week, the general - on his last trip to Afghanistan before he stands down - revealed he was being flown around in an American helicopter because no British alternative was available. Ministers say all coalition helicopters in Afghanistan are available for use by all Nato allies.
In response, ministers have pointed out that all coalition helicopters in Afghanistan are available for use by all NATO allies. The general's comments come during a month in which 16 British soldiers have died - 12 killed by roadside bombs.
The general's recent comments come on the back of a month in which 16 British soldiers have died in Helmand - 12 killed by roadside bombs.
HAVE YOUR SAY Helicopters are essential in any war where the enemy is laying mines or IEDs. To say otherwise is a clear signal that Gordon Brown does not value the lives of British servicemen and womenRoger Hart, Deal Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY Helicopters are essential in any war where the enemy is laying mines or IEDs. To say otherwise is a clear signal that Gordon Brown does not value the lives of British servicemen and womenRoger Hart, Deal Send us your comments
Mr Fox told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was "extremely likely" the Conservatives - if in power - would agree to a request for more British troops in the short term.Mr Fox told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was "extremely likely" the Conservatives - if in power - would agree to a request for more British troops in the short term.
He replied: "If we had a direct request from the head of the armed forces that they needed something specific to maximise the chance of success of the mission and minimise the risk to our forces, of course we would have to say 'yes' to that." "If we had a direct request from the head of the armed forces that they needed something specific to maximise the chance of success of the mission and minimise the risk to our forces, of course we would have to say 'yes' to that," he said.
Mr Fox said he understood the request for extra troops had been to allow for the training of Afghan forces.Mr Fox said he understood the request for extra troops had been to allow for the training of Afghan forces.
Providing more personnel for this would be "easier" than if they were needed for frontline duties, which would require additional equipment, he said.Providing more personnel for this would be "easier" than if they were needed for frontline duties, which would require additional equipment, he said.
Lord Mandelson told the BBC the last thing troops needed was for opposition parties to seek "political advantage" on issues relating to Afghanistan, rather than giving united backing.Lord Mandelson told the BBC the last thing troops needed was for opposition parties to seek "political advantage" on issues relating to Afghanistan, rather than giving united backing.
The big increase in UK casualties has come as coalition troops conduct a military offensive designed to increase security ahead of the Afghan elections. The increase in UK casualties has come as coalition troops conduct an offensive designed to increase security ahead of the Afghan elections.
Col Richard Kemp, who commanded troops in Afghanistan in 2003, said extra equipment can help but that casualties are unavoidable.Col Richard Kemp, who commanded troops in Afghanistan in 2003, said extra equipment can help but that casualties are unavoidable.
"People who think that by couple more helicopters, slightly different armoured vehicles, we're going to eliminate all casualties, we're not. "People who think that by a couple more helicopters, slightly different armoured vehicles, we're going to eliminate all casualties, we're not."
"What people don't necessarily see quite so clearly is the number of casualties we're inflicting on the enemy."
So far, 185 UK service personnel have now died in Afghanistan since 2001 - more than the 179 who were killed during the war in Iraq.So far, 185 UK service personnel have now died in Afghanistan since 2001 - more than the 179 who were killed during the war in Iraq.