Brown accused of dereliction of duty

Tuesday, 14 July 2009 07:12 Press TV
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UK, July 13 (Press TV) With Britain mourning the recent deaths of eight soldiers, Prime Minister Gordon Brown faces accusations of "dereliction of duty" in his handling of the war in Afghanistan.
Pressure has been piling up on the British government after the deaths of eight soldiers on Friday pushed Britain's toll in Afghanistan to 184 from a force of 9,000 -- five more than its total losses in Iraq.
Shadow Defense Secretary Liam Fox blamed the deaths on Prime Minister Brown for what he described as "catastrophically" under-equipping the armed forces.
"Our brave armed forces lack the equipment which give them adequate mobility and protection in an ever more dangerous environment," he said.
Fox blamed the British Prime Minister for not keeping "Tony Blair's promise that the armed forces could have whatever they needed", adding that "For this Government to have sent our young people into battle without adequate equipment and protection is the ultimate dereliction of duty."
Critics argue that the shortage of helicopters has forced troops to travel by road and left them vulnerable to Taliban roadside bombs.
The Prime Minister defended himself by saying that British forces "have almost twice as much helicopter capability as two years ago".
In separate remarks, the Scottish National party (SNP) Westminster leader and Defense spokesperson Angus Robertson called for "a serious review" of government strategy in the region.
"The awful toll of military personnel killed in Afghanistan has understandably led to questions about just what our forces are fighting for. When we first went to Afghanistan the defense secretary blithely suggested they could complete their mission 'without firing a shot' - people want to know what has happened," he said.
Despite the criticism leveled against the British government, a poll released on Sunday indicates that public support for the war in Afghanistan has not wavered among Britons even after eight soldiers were killed over 24 hours.
The ICM poll for the Guardian and the BBC's Newsnight put opposition to the war, at 47 percent -- where support is slightly lower, at 46 percent.
According to the poll's finding, support has risen from 31 percent in 2006 while opposition has fallen six points.
Brown argues that Britain's participation in the Afghan war was crucial to domestic safety.
Amid the bitter political row in the UK, US President Barack Obama stepped in to support the under-fire government, calling Britain's contribution in Afghanistan critically important.
"Great Britain has played an extraordinary role in this coalition, understanding that we can not allow either Afghanistan or Pakistan to be a safe haven for al-Qaeda, those who with impunity blow up train stations in London or buildings in New York," President Obama said on Saturday.

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