UK Officer Quits Over Afghan Mission
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UK Officer Quits Over Afghan Mission
UK Officer Quits Over Afghan Mission
IslamOnline.net & Newspapers
September has become the deadliest month for British troops in Afghanistan since March 2003.
CAIRO – A top British officer has resigned his post in the army in protest at the "grotesquely clumsy" and "pointless" campaign against Taliban in Afghanistan, a British newspaper reported on Sunday, September 10.
"We're now scattered in a shallow meaningless way across northern towns where the only way for the troops to survive is to increase the level of violence so more people get killed," Captain Leo Docherty, the former aide-de-camp to the commander of the British taskforce in southern Afghanistan, told The Sunday Times.
"It's pretty shocking and not something I want to be part of."
Docherty called the British mission in southern Afghanistan "a textbook case of how to screw up a counter-insurgency."
"Having a big old fight is pointless and just making things worse," he said.
The criticism, the first from an officer who has served in Afghanistan, came during the worst time so far for British troops in the country.
The British military paid tribute Saturday to those killed in a plane crash in Afghanistan as they counted the cost of September, already the deadliest month they have sustained since March 2003.
In total, 22 British troops have been killed so far this month.
Pinned down by daily Taliban attacks, many have run short of food and water and have been forced to rely on air support and artillery.
"Now the ground has been lost…..It’s completely barking mad," said Docherty.
Some 4,000 British troops make up the majority of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force deployed in the southern provinces of Helmand and Kandahar.
Losing Hearts
Docherty said British troops have failed in winning the hearts and minds of the Afghans.
"We've been grotesquely clumsy — we've said we'll be different to the Americans who were bombing and strafing villages, then behaved exactly like them," he regretted.
"All those people whose homes have been destroyed and sons killed are going to turn against the British," he asserted.
"It’s a pretty clear equation — if people are losing homes and poppy fields, they will go and fight. I certainly would."
The Senlis Council, an international policy think tank on with offices in Kabul, London, Paris and Brussels, recently published a study concluding that five years after invasion, the Western strategy was inflicting more misery and starvation on the Afghan people.
The report, "Afghanistan Five Years Later: The Return of the Taliban", said the flawed military approach by the US-led forces is allowing ousted Taliban to regain its influence.
A separate report by the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) said destroying the livelihood of Afghan farmers was losing the foreign troops hearts and minds in many areas.
No Developments
Docherty said the British troops deviated from the original development plan for Afghanistan.
"The plan was to secure the provincial capital Lashkar Gah, initiate development projects and enable governance," he explained.
Docherty said the British army has not, as planned, provided the Afghans with much-needed power stations, paved roads and drinking water.
"The military is just one side of the triangle," he said. "Where were the Department for International Development and the Foreign Office?"
Christian Aid, an agency of the churches in Britain and Ireland, warned Sunday that millions of Afghans face starvation after drought destroyed much of the harvest in the north and west.
It estimated that more than one million people in the provinces of Badghis, Farah, Faryab, Ghor, and Herat were affected by the drought.
The group urged international donors to pledge funds for Afghanistan's emergency drought appeal -- set up by the Afghan government and the UN -- which needs 76 million dollars (60 million euros).
In July, the UN and the Afghan government said that 2.5 million people were suffering from food shortages, in addition to the 6.5 million Afghans in rural areas who suffer from annual seasonal food shortages.
http://www.islamonline.net/English/N...09/10/01.shtml
IslamOnline.net & Newspapers
September has become the deadliest month for British troops in Afghanistan since March 2003. CAIRO – A top British officer has resigned his post in the army in protest at the "grotesquely clumsy" and "pointless" campaign against Taliban in Afghanistan, a British newspaper reported on Sunday, September 10.
"We're now scattered in a shallow meaningless way across northern towns where the only way for the troops to survive is to increase the level of violence so more people get killed," Captain Leo Docherty, the former aide-de-camp to the commander of the British taskforce in southern Afghanistan, told The Sunday Times.
"It's pretty shocking and not something I want to be part of."
Docherty called the British mission in southern Afghanistan "a textbook case of how to screw up a counter-insurgency."
"Having a big old fight is pointless and just making things worse," he said.
The criticism, the first from an officer who has served in Afghanistan, came during the worst time so far for British troops in the country.
The British military paid tribute Saturday to those killed in a plane crash in Afghanistan as they counted the cost of September, already the deadliest month they have sustained since March 2003.
In total, 22 British troops have been killed so far this month.
Pinned down by daily Taliban attacks, many have run short of food and water and have been forced to rely on air support and artillery.
"Now the ground has been lost…..It’s completely barking mad," said Docherty.
Some 4,000 British troops make up the majority of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force deployed in the southern provinces of Helmand and Kandahar.
Losing Hearts
Docherty said British troops have failed in winning the hearts and minds of the Afghans.
"We've been grotesquely clumsy — we've said we'll be different to the Americans who were bombing and strafing villages, then behaved exactly like them," he regretted.
"All those people whose homes have been destroyed and sons killed are going to turn against the British," he asserted.
"It’s a pretty clear equation — if people are losing homes and poppy fields, they will go and fight. I certainly would."
The Senlis Council, an international policy think tank on with offices in Kabul, London, Paris and Brussels, recently published a study concluding that five years after invasion, the Western strategy was inflicting more misery and starvation on the Afghan people.
The report, "Afghanistan Five Years Later: The Return of the Taliban", said the flawed military approach by the US-led forces is allowing ousted Taliban to regain its influence.
A separate report by the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) said destroying the livelihood of Afghan farmers was losing the foreign troops hearts and minds in many areas.
No Developments
Docherty said the British troops deviated from the original development plan for Afghanistan.
"The plan was to secure the provincial capital Lashkar Gah, initiate development projects and enable governance," he explained.
Docherty said the British army has not, as planned, provided the Afghans with much-needed power stations, paved roads and drinking water.
"The military is just one side of the triangle," he said. "Where were the Department for International Development and the Foreign Office?"
Christian Aid, an agency of the churches in Britain and Ireland, warned Sunday that millions of Afghans face starvation after drought destroyed much of the harvest in the north and west.
It estimated that more than one million people in the provinces of Badghis, Farah, Faryab, Ghor, and Herat were affected by the drought.
The group urged international donors to pledge funds for Afghanistan's emergency drought appeal -- set up by the Afghan government and the UN -- which needs 76 million dollars (60 million euros).
In July, the UN and the Afghan government said that 2.5 million people were suffering from food shortages, in addition to the 6.5 million Afghans in rural areas who suffer from annual seasonal food shortages.
http://www.islamonline.net/English/N...09/10/01.shtml
A top British officer has resigned his post in the army... Captain Leo Docherty
The recent journo reports just keep getting better!
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Few things pain me as much as sloppy journalism. In this case it can probably be put down to the potential bias of Islamonline.net.
And in more detail...
An Army captain? Come on, that's an easy one to pull apart! Even lt cols probably can't justifiably be referred to as "top officers".
... because God forbid they would ever need air support or artillery normally! A little bit of common sense would indicate that if the Army can use an airstrike or artillery bombardment rather than a costly infantry attack, they're going to choose that option. It isn't a case of being "forced" to do something. It's the best way to deal with a tough situation. We are still inflicting greater losses on the Taliban than they are on us, and while this might not be winning hearts and minds - still a crucial part of any operation - it is depleting their manpower. Although you wouldn't expect to hear our politically-correct, NEC-obsessed, beancounting lords and masters saying so, sometimes wars boil down to who can kill more of their opponents because, to paraphrase Clausewitz, it as one way to ensure the will of the enemy is conquered. It's nasty, but it's true. Using air support and artillery is all part of achieving the desired end state of NO TALIBAN LEFT!
If Capt Docherty has evidence that British troops have been strafing villages, maybe the wise thing to do would be to report this potential war crime through the proper channels rather than use it to substantiate his grievances.
Okay, this is genuinely terrible and I hope the UK can do something about it. But linking it to the military is, perhaps, tenuous at best. Droughts happen in that part of the world even without war. The journalist/editor has clearly attempted to link the potential loss of 2.5m innocent lives to NATO's attempts to restore peace to the South of the country. That is not only sloppy journalism, it's what one could term a constructive mistruth. Making the reader associate the military with the drought without offering any information to substantiate the link.
I never thought I'd say it, but thank God OUR press - on the whole - at least tries to behave with a modicum of ethical consideration when it comes to Iraq and Afghanistan. It's a sad case of many respectable journos being let down by their more grasping colleagues, biased editors, and overbearing owners.
And in more detail...
A top British officer ...
Pinned down by daily Taliban attacks, many have run short of food and water and have been forced to rely on air support and artillery.
we've said we'll be different to the Americans who were bombing and strafing villages, then behaved exactly like them.
Christian Aid, an agency of the churches in Britain and Ireland, warned Sunday that millions of Afghans face starvation after drought destroyed much of the harvest in the north and west.
It estimated that more than one million people in the provinces of Badghis, Farah, Faryab, Ghor, and Herat were affected by the drought.
It estimated that more than one million people in the provinces of Badghis, Farah, Faryab, Ghor, and Herat were affected by the drought.
I never thought I'd say it, but thank God OUR press - on the whole - at least tries to behave with a modicum of ethical consideration when it comes to Iraq and Afghanistan. It's a sad case of many respectable journos being let down by their more grasping colleagues, biased editors, and overbearing owners.
TAC Int Bloke
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Just a quickie, I seem to remember there are a handful of Harriers at Kandahar, and despite what the Harrier mates might say, they can't be everywhere at once. So assuming we aren’t doing Arclights on local population centres with our secret hoards of Vulcans how the hell does a limited number of CAS flights="bombing and strafing villages" in a "grotesquely clumsy" manner?
Oh, and the photo is of some Spams......1/10 for photo to article accuracy – doesn’t bode well for the rest of the piece
Bugger, I've tried to introduce reality into this haven’t I?
Oh, and the photo is of some Spams......1/10 for photo to article accuracy – doesn’t bode well for the rest of the piece
Bugger, I've tried to introduce reality into this haven’t I?
Perhaps some Journo has been reading "Winter Soldier" by John Kerry and merely tried to slip his version of it into print.
The issue that confused me is how one wins the "Hearts and Minds" of the die-hard Taliban? Somehow I don't think polite talk over Tea and Stickeys is the doable approach.
Personally, I like the concept of the Taliban standing and fighting in large groups....the old idea of find, fix, and destroy (using B-52's) sounds a champion to me.
On a serious note....news report the other day asserted the British OC in Southern Afganistan had gone on record saying he was short resources to properly conduct operations. He included, according to the report, such things as artillery, attack helicopters, CAS aircraft, and transport aircraft.
Perhaps the good Captain was premature in his submitting his resignation if that were the case.
The issue that confused me is how one wins the "Hearts and Minds" of the die-hard Taliban? Somehow I don't think polite talk over Tea and Stickeys is the doable approach.
Personally, I like the concept of the Taliban standing and fighting in large groups....the old idea of find, fix, and destroy (using B-52's) sounds a champion to me.
On a serious note....news report the other day asserted the British OC in Southern Afganistan had gone on record saying he was short resources to properly conduct operations. He included, according to the report, such things as artillery, attack helicopters, CAS aircraft, and transport aircraft.
Perhaps the good Captain was premature in his submitting his resignation if that were the case.
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With any luck this will infrom a fairly uninformed public that there's a serious war on out there!
Much respect and best wishes to our boys and girls on the ground. i wish Captain Docherty all the best in civilian life. No real need for the parting shot though was there?
Much respect and best wishes to our boys and girls on the ground. i wish Captain Docherty all the best in civilian life. No real need for the parting shot though was there?
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I have to say, and I emphasise without first hand knowledge, this sounds like a scenario from Vietnam. Firebases being used, body counts justifying success, etc. This does not sound like a British hearts and minds approach, but nobody expected the "firebases" to come under such constant attack. If there are so many Afghans willing to throw themselves into the line of fire and accept such heavy casualties, then this may be our Vietnam - unless we send enough troops to be able to patrol out of the firebases and win the hearts and minds with welfare, medical and civil engineering support to show the Afghans that there is a better solution than restoration of Taliban control.
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The Taliban dont care about losses, its straight to heven with 72 virgins for them.... We are fighting an enemy that doesnt care. You can kill thousands it wont matter there will still be thousands growing older more resentful waiting to fill their flip flops....
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Doesn't sound like Vietnam to me.. at least not when I was FACing. Sounds more like the islands in the Pacific in WWII.
Alas the general assumption that the vast majority of the Afghani people are Taliban or supporters of the Taliban....that just isn't so.
Thus in effect as in Iraq...only a very small proportion of the population are involved in the fighting.
The vast majority of the Afghani's do not support the Taliban.
Thus in effect as in Iraq...only a very small proportion of the population are involved in the fighting.
The vast majority of the Afghani's do not support the Taliban.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
'Senior British Officer' - don't forget from the outside there is a perception of a pyramidal structure with lots of Privates and the bottom and fewer NCO/Officer above them. The concept of junior officer, field officer and general officer is lost on people. The status of a Captain, from their perception, especially in-theatre is high and not necessarily unwelcome at home.
In theatre what is the highest rank? 2*? Major-Lt Col-Brigadier - that makes Captain pretty important.
And has the British media never called a warrant officer a senior military person? There is one ppruner here who posts under his own name and I have seen him so described as a 'senior military person'.
As far as the article, don't forget there is a pysops campaign and two can play. Does Docherty exist?
In theatre what is the highest rank? 2*? Major-Lt Col-Brigadier - that makes Captain pretty important.
And has the British media never called a warrant officer a senior military person? There is one ppruner here who posts under his own name and I have seen him so described as a 'senior military person'.
As far as the article, don't forget there is a pysops campaign and two can play. Does Docherty exist?
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Msg for Pontius Nav
And has the British media never called a warrant officer a senior military person?
Pontious Nav....Tut tut...'Warrant officers' ARE very senior military persons!!
Pontious Nav....Tut tut...'Warrant officers' ARE very senior military persons!!
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'Senior British Officer' - don't forget from the outside there is a perception of a pyramidal structure with lots of Privates and the bottom and fewer NCO/Officer above them. The concept of junior officer, field officer and general officer is lost on people. The status of a Captain, from their perception, especially in-theatre is high and not necessarily unwelcome at home.
In theatre what is the highest rank? 2*? Major-Lt Col-Brigadier - that makes Captain pretty important.
And has the British media never called a warrant officer a senior military person? There is one ppruner here who posts under his own name and I have seen him so described as a 'senior military person'.
As far as the article, don't forget there is a pysops campaign and two can play. Does Docherty exist?
In theatre what is the highest rank? 2*? Major-Lt Col-Brigadier - that makes Captain pretty important.
And has the British media never called a warrant officer a senior military person? There is one ppruner here who posts under his own name and I have seen him so described as a 'senior military person'.
As far as the article, don't forget there is a pysops campaign and two can play. Does Docherty exist?
As an ADC he was a man with excellent career path opportunities and he has thrown them all away on a point of principle. Something must be wrong.
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It's good to see that even in modern times, most of you can expend effort scoffing at his relatively junior rank.
Perhaps our young Capt shouldn't have broken ranks, but at the same time he is giving information about a campaign which isn't necessarily running on the same lines of our recent engagements.
The operation in Afghanistan is different to what we first envisaged and the Taliban and other associated elements have engaged in the kind of warfare they are very practised at. Everyone seems surprised that they have been prepared to stand and fight, but there has been some previous evidence to suggest that they would!
Through our actions, we probably have lost the ability to win the hearts and minds and what the young Capt is drawing the attention to is that whether we choose to win the war or to extract ourselves with dignity, this now needs to become the main effort and receive the level of resources needed to achieve the aim. The force we have doesn't deny ground and resources to the enemy significantly so they can fight, regroup and seek us out again.
If you read the text by the young Capt, he highlights the fortitude and stamina of our excellent troops - they need more like them to win and the equipment to support them.
Perhaps our young Capt shouldn't have broken ranks, but at the same time he is giving information about a campaign which isn't necessarily running on the same lines of our recent engagements.
The operation in Afghanistan is different to what we first envisaged and the Taliban and other associated elements have engaged in the kind of warfare they are very practised at. Everyone seems surprised that they have been prepared to stand and fight, but there has been some previous evidence to suggest that they would!
Through our actions, we probably have lost the ability to win the hearts and minds and what the young Capt is drawing the attention to is that whether we choose to win the war or to extract ourselves with dignity, this now needs to become the main effort and receive the level of resources needed to achieve the aim. The force we have doesn't deny ground and resources to the enemy significantly so they can fight, regroup and seek us out again.
If you read the text by the young Capt, he highlights the fortitude and stamina of our excellent troops - they need more like them to win and the equipment to support them.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
There would appear to be a dichotomy of opinion here. The general in charge says he justs needs 1000-2500 more frontline troops as a mobile force to finsih the job; the Canadian press report their forces are in negotiations with some taliban groups and, as I posted about a week ago, some of the more moderate chiefs want someone to come across the border and negotiate terms.
As stated, these are not all "taliban". The original taliban were religious fanatics who hated drug runners. The present lot are a mix of some hardliners, others paid by the drug barons who are afraid the troops are out to destroy the crops and village chieftains who fear the same.
There are a lot of villages who hate the taliban who have been burning down their schools and clinics and murdering the doctors and teachers more than the coalition. They are also aware that the aid and rebuilding promised is being prevented by the same.
You may wish to believe the Captain who has been picked up by the "impartial" press and given such wide publicity. The question is why you should disbelieve the officer commanding who has the greater knowledge and experience....
As stated, these are not all "taliban". The original taliban were religious fanatics who hated drug runners. The present lot are a mix of some hardliners, others paid by the drug barons who are afraid the troops are out to destroy the crops and village chieftains who fear the same.
There are a lot of villages who hate the taliban who have been burning down their schools and clinics and murdering the doctors and teachers more than the coalition. They are also aware that the aid and rebuilding promised is being prevented by the same.
You may wish to believe the Captain who has been picked up by the "impartial" press and given such wide publicity. The question is why you should disbelieve the officer commanding who has the greater knowledge and experience....
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Yawn, just another self-publicising individual choosing to go out with a bang rather than just going quietly. No doubt he will be providing expert advice to the media (definitely a Chinook, a Herc, an R1 errrrr). Yet again someone choosing to leave having a dig as he does so and leaving the whole campaign slightly weaker as a result, no matter how he praises the troops. What exactly has he achieved for the morale of his troops, their families or/and the Taleban come to think of it?
I don't care how gifted one is (and I DO NOT go along with the 'ADC hence special' lines above), these people really should stop and think. Not sure what gives him the right to spout about what his seniors are doing is wrong. Personally, when I leave (whatever my reasons) I hope to do so with dignity and support for those I leave behind.
I don't care how gifted one is (and I DO NOT go along with the 'ADC hence special' lines above), these people really should stop and think. Not sure what gives him the right to spout about what his seniors are doing is wrong. Personally, when I leave (whatever my reasons) I hope to do so with dignity and support for those I leave behind.