Armed forces ‘only just coping’
The British armed forces are only “just” coping with the demands made on them by politicians, the new head of the army has warned.
Richard Dannatt’s comments come after 14 Britons were killed when an RAF Nimrod crashed in southern Afghanistan on Saturday – the biggest single loss of life since operations in the country and Iraq since 2001.
“We are running hot, certainly running hot,” the new chief of the general staff told The Guardian, adding: “Can we cope? I pause. I say, ‘just.'”
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said the plane crash was caused by a “terrible accident” and not an attack by the Taliban, as was claimed immediately after.
But questions are now being asked about the apparent mechanical failure that led to the crash, and whether the RAF Nimrod, which was flying in support of Nato’s operations against the Taliban in Kandahar, was too old to be in use.
Sir Richard’s comments today, in which he also warned that the army was “meeting challenges on the hoof”, will only add to concerns that Britain’s armed forces are overstretched and not equipped to cope with deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The defence select committee recently warned that British troops in Afghanistan were lacking the necessary resources. They have encountered more hostile resistance to their work tackling heroin producers in the Helmand province than expected.
And today shadow defence secretary Liam Fox accused Tony Blair of having a “cavalier” approach to the armed forces, increasingly willing to deploy them around the world but unwilling to give them the necessary resources.
“The consequences are that our troops are in greater danger and our missions are at greater risk of failure,” he said.
Following the deaths of the 14 men on Saturday, the prime minister said: “This tragedy will distress the whole country and our thoughts go out immediately to the families of those who have died.
“British forces are engaged in a vital and dangerous mission in Afghanistan and this terrible event starkly reminds us of the risk that they daily face.”
Defence secretary Des Browne described the news as “dreadful and shocking” and sent his condolences to the family and friends of the dead men, ten of whom were based at RAF Kinloss in north-east Scotland.
“This is not the time for speculation, as the operation to secure the crash site is ongoing. We will provide further information as soon as there is more to say,” he said.
“Everyone will understand that our first priority is to inform and support the families of those on board. I can say, however, at this stage all the indications are that this was a terrible accident and not the result of hostile action.
“This tragic incident should serve to remind us all of the risks the British military shoulder on all our behalf across the world every day.”
