Pressure rises for Afghan pull-out

[IndianaGreen]

Pressure rises for Afghan pull-out

Sunday 08 November 2009
by Lizzie Cocker

Attempts by the Establishment to use Remembrance Sunday to whip up patriotism for their conflicts were overshadowed by the latest death of a young British soldier in Afghanistan - and news that most British citizens now consider the war unwinnable.

Reports of the latest British casualty in an explosion in Helmand province on Saturday - bringing the death toll of British troops in Afghanistan to 231 - prompted senior British commander in the country Lieutenant General Jim Dutton to say that supportive public opinion was crucial to success.

But on Sunday the true scale of public opposition became clear following the release of a BBC survey showing that a record 63 per cent of British citizens now oppose the war, up from 58 per cent in July.

Lt Gen Dutton's comment that "without any doubt support back home is crucially important" stood in stark contrast with a startling comment by embattled Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth that public opinion cannot determine military strategy.

Putting Remembrance Sunday into perspective, Stop the War Coalition chairman Andrew Murray said: "At a time when so many families, particularly from working-class areas, are mourning the death of soldiers fighting an unjust war in Afghanistan, the best way to observe Remembrance Sunday would be to call a halt to the slaughter and bring the troops home."

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/82970

[LakeSamish706]

1. Good... I hope many NATO countries start to wake up and realize that....

like the so-called war in Iraq, a win in Afghanistan has never been defined.... What does it mean to win in either of these conflicts anyway?