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BROWN: WE MUST NOT WALK AWAY FROM AFGHANISTAN

BROWN: This Afghan mission must not fail

Friday November 6,2009

By Julia White for Express.co.uk

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(26)

PRIME Minister Gordon Brown defended Britain’s military mission in Afghanistan today, insisting “we cannot, must not and will not walk away”.

In a high-profile speech in London, hastily arranged following a series of British deaths in Afghanistan this week, Mr Brown said the military action in the country was “our first line of defence” against terror attacks at home.

Paying tribute days ahead of Remembrance Day to the 93 British troops who have died in Afghanistan this year, the Prime Minister said: “These men are our heroes today.”

Mr Brown acknowledged that Britain’s strategy was not “without danger or risk”.

But he warned that al Qaida terrorists continue to plot terror attacks on Britain from the region, and said: “This mission must not fail.”

DEATH TOLL: Five soldiers were killed this week by a rogue Afghan policeman

Mr Brown’s speech comes amid polling evidence suggesting that a growing majority of voters now want to see British troops withdraw from Afghanistan within the coming year - with more than half in a survey this week saying they did not believe victory against the Taliban insurgents was possible.

EXPRESS POLL: TIME FOR US TO PULL OUT OF AFGHANISTAN?

And it follows a call from former Foreign Office minister Kim Howells for the mission in Afghanistan to be halted and the money spent on anti-terror measures in the UK.

This mission must not fail

Gordon Brown

In a clear response to Dr Howells’ call, Mr Brown said he rejected any suggestion that the commitment in Afghanistan was diverting effort away from security at home.

He said: “Britain has consistently shouldered its fair share of the burden and more - especially in the last three years, since we deployed into Southern Afghanistan, the heartland of the Taliban.

“But when the main terrorist threat facing Britain emanates from Afghanistan and Pakistan; and when, although the sustained pressure in Pakistan, combined with military action in Afghanistan, is having a suppressive effect on al Qaida, we know that they continue to train and plot attacks on Britain from the region ... this mission must not fail.

“It is not easy; the choices are not simple. There is no strategy that is without danger and risk.

“But that is the responsibility of leadership - of government, and of our armed forces. To do what is necessary, however difficult, to keep the British people safe. We cannot, must not and will not walk away.”

Mr Brown said that in discussions over the past few days, he had agreed a set of measures with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai to improve the country’s security, governance, political settlement, economic development and relations with neighbours like Pakistan.

Mr Brown said the key to bringing British troops home from Afghanistan was building up the home-grown armed forces and police to a state where they could deliver security themselves.

Despite the murder this week of five British servicemen by a “rogue” Afghan police officer they were training, the UK would not give up its role of training and mentoring local security forces.

He said: “We will not give up this strategy of mentoring. Because it is what distinguishes a liberating army from an army of occupation.

“Not an army in opposition to local Afghan people but an army supporting local Afghan people.”

Commenting on Mr Brown's speech, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said: “This speech is a woefully belated attempt to win over public support for a war that has cost so many lives.

“Since he entered Number 10, Gordon Brown has failed to explain to the British people why we are in Afghanistan and how we are going to succeed."

DO YOU THINK IT'S TIME WE PULLED OUT OF AFGHANISTAN?

JOIN THE DEBATE: HAVE YOUR SAY

BROWN,WE MUST NOT WALK AWAY FROM AFGHANISTAN

07.11.09, 1:02pm

We would be better off defending ourselves from terrorism by getting rid of the terrorists who are already here and defending our borders from any more arriving.

• Posted by: Normant • Report Comment

BROWN: WE MUST NOT WALK AWAY FROM AFGHANISTAN

06.11.09, 11:31pm

because ?

There are NO British Assets in Afghanistan..except the British Army.. Get them out.
( Its UKIPpolicy to tactically withdraw from Afghanistan and Euroland )

• Posted by: JonO • Report Comment

THE UK WOULD NOT GIVE UP ITS ROLE OF TRAINING AND MENTORING LOCAL SECURITY FORCES.

06.11.09, 9:43pm

We have been told the same nonsense here in The Colonies.

we have been attempting to train the locals for years. Has it never occurred to the powers these people either are untrainable or have no desire to be trained?

Why should they risk their lives in defence of their own country when we are willing to expend the lives of our forces and our national treasure?

These so-called leaders need a reality check and thus far nothing has got through their thick skulls.

• Posted by: DennisR • Report Comment

THE FIGHT ON TERRORISM IS A JOKE

06.11.09, 9:20pm

some terrorists live breath work and claim benefits in
this very country.
when they kill the human rights protects their " human rights" but not the right of the person whose legs they have just blew off or the person who has just been murdered by them.
it is one big joke.
and the only people laughing are the terrorists living in this country .

and they are not Human so do not have human rights, they are not even animals as animals only kill for food,
terrorists are nothing but evil **** cowards they all belong in the gutter like the muck that they are.

• Posted by: jessica • Report Comment

HAND ON HEART ?

06.11.09, 7:15pm

I have never ' hated ' or detested anyone... as much as i hate the NWO droid General Stalin Brown...

I have tried.. oh, how i have tried ! but just looking at the Prime monster Brown, makes me come over all nauseaus ?

The ' New World order' don'y make too many mistakes... but , allowing the Brown Gorgon to continue with a ' stream of lies ' upon the nieve and the gullible, and those of very low intellect... really, REALLY grates on me now !

And, i live 1246 miles away ? so, God only knows how tough it must be, for you...

To not, coming over all giddy & sick to the pits of your stomachs.. each and every time the Brown Gorgon opens his lying mouth ?

How the fu**, did it ever come to this this ?

It is now time to question yourself ?

Each & evertime, the Prime monster moves his NWO controlled lips.. he lies ?

And make absolutley no mistake about it !

• Posted by: Harri_if_hipphopper_wants_a_date_just_ask • Report Comment

WE ARE FIGHTING THEM OVER THERE SO WE DON'T HAVE TO FIGHT THEM OVER HERE

06.11.09, 4:26pm

Believe that fantasy? 700 Afghan asylum seekers arrive here each and every month. Some wash up purely as economic migrants,other to escape the hellish conditions we have helped to create in THEIR country,others,most likely,will be of the same mindset as that "policeman" who murdered 5 of our finest. Many of these people will have been brought up on a diet of death and destruction,and hate our country with a white hot intensity. I'd like to see all our troops pulled out today,and replaced by our despicable MP's

• Posted by: JackPershing • Report Comment