Prime Minster Gordon Brown in what must be one of his key pre-election challenge made a speech in London at the Royal College of Defence Studies this morning, he said we "cannot, must not and will not walk away" from the mission in Afghanistan."We will succeed or fail together and we will succeed," Mr Brown said
He also said that whilst military action creates a "suppressive effect on al-Qaeda", "we cannot, must not and will not walk away".
Mr Brown added: "We will not be deterred, dissuaded or diverted from taking whatever measures are necessary to protect our security... “
"We will not give up this strategy of mentoring [Afghan local forces], because it is what distinguishes a liberating army from an army of occupation."
Mr Brown tried to justify during the speech that the Afghan army should be increased from its current size of 80,000 troops to more than 130,000 by the end of 2010.
Fighting words indeed from Mr Brown. With a sense that he is trying to actually suggest that Afghanistan is the only source of Terror that the World faces today and that this country together with the border regions of Pakistan is solely responsible for all terror outbreaks is perhaps stretching a point too far.
He went on to say, "It is the opposition's job to ask tough questions when British soldiers are being killed at this appalling rate. It is right to question the strategy. It is failing at an accelerating rate."
However, just like Mr Blair before him appears to be using the continuing military operation partly as a vehicle to embolden his ability to be seen to govern this country. This sadly comes from a “in all sense of the phrase” very bankrupt Government on the verge of collapse and imploding without having the collective “common sense” to know what the “key” UK priorities are.
Mr Brown as did Mr Blair before him talk of defeating al-Qaeda without really knowing what al-Qaeda is or represents. This probably is one of the greatest “collective misunderstandings” of the 21st century. I suspect based on a belief that this is like other wars of the past. The so-called “War on Terror” as voiced by George W. Bush will no doubt when looked back upon in the cold and unforgiving light of history, will shock and appal future generations of commentators and educators.
Most wars of the past have been waged against a sovereign or failed state, an “enemy” that was contained within a region. Mr Brown and no doubt the US thinking would now have us believe that Afghanistan and al-Qaeda is being treated in that way.
This may be true if the perceived “enemy” actually existed within the borders of both Afghanistan and Pakistan, certainly this region is a stronghold for terror training camps, this is not at question here, but it is the assertion that Mr Blair and now Mr Brown keeps making that this alone represents the “ultimate” threat to World peace and our National Security and that it must be fought at all costs until the so called enemy al-Qaeda is defeated.
It is a widely held view amongst most defence and security experts that al-Qaeda is a mishmash of an ideology that exits and self propagates, through word of mouth and mostly now because of the Internet and freely resides in the minds of people all round the globe that wish to embrace this ideology to wage Terror.
This is precisely “why” the group of 19 mostly Saudi US based suicide hijackers decided to fly planes into the World Trade Centre on 9/11 and 4 British suicide bombers decided to bomb London’s transport system on 7/7.
This was based on “raw” ideology; you may read above that I do not make any reference to race or religion. Many commentators have incorrectly linked certain religions as propagating “evil” this is a mistake and creates a stigmatisation to certain religious groups, which can and does breed and help recruit more people to embrace this mishmash ideology known as al-Qaeda.
No doubt we will learn of the tragedy on 5/11/09 at Fort Hood in Texas, US that the renegade Major psychiatrist was acting alone (hence not a conspiracy) and was not influenced by al-Qaeda. However, if this incident had taken place in Afghanistan as a similar incident had indeed a week ago involving an Afghan renegade policeman killing 5 British soldiers it would be directly linked to al-Qaeda infiltration. It is all about perception and no doubt fuelled by the media.
Actually, the al-Qaeda was born in Afghanistan out of the Russian occupation 1979 during the height of the Cold War. The United States responded by aiding, supporting and training the Mujahideen.
It is well known and documented that the CIA indirectly supported the Taliban (and in part helped in the formation of al-Qaeda), providing military support to the Taliban, in the early 1980s, the CIA together with ISI (Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency) provided arms to Afghans fighting the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
It is estimated that between 600,000 and 2 million Afghans citizens were killed during the Russian lead occupation and more than 5 million Afghans citizens fled to Pakistan.
One could argue therefore, that “the current problems” and indeed al-Qaeda and its ideology was in part created by the intervention of the Super Powers.
Therefore, if the perceived enemy is actually an ideology, which is virtually now always referred to in the west as al-Qaeda, then it is hardly surprising that just like the ancient Hydra from Greek mythology with nine heads that grow back two heads if one head is cut off, it is an un-winnable war. Fighting a mythical Hydra would actually be easier as it can be seen for what it is.
So when Mr Brown said today in discussing the continuing military action in Afghanistan that if it has a "suppressive effect on al-Qaeda", perhaps he is actually being honest up to a point. Since he’s statement “suppressive effect” acknowledges and implies just that as in a palliative treatment to serious medical conditions. Help but not a cure.
However, we must accept that our British forces are for the right or wrong reason deployed to Afghanistan and give the brave soldiers that put their lives on the line every second of every day whilst on duty all the support that we can. They are the innocent pawns in this cat and mouse game of War politics and we must remember their bravery this Remembrance Sunday. It must be hard to fight a war on any terms but especially so when the enemy is one of Ideology that exists mostly in the mind.
I believe that we must look to a swift end of all military operations and allow Afghanistan to control its own destiny through its own governance, in other words it is time to withdraw tactically and gracefully.
The United Kingdom is in the deepest recession in history and its economy is dire, we are the only remaining G8 to be in negative GDP, it is now time to concentrate on National issues that affect the lives of each one of us here back home whether Coventry, Manchester or London. Great Britain can no longer afford to be the Police Force of the world especially for a phoney War based more on Blairism and arrogance than substance.
Author: Nigel Rumble
Photo copyrite: MOD
