Is Lord Ashdown right and is it time to leave Afghanistan?

I missed the interview with Lib Dem (and ex Royal Marine) Lord Paddy Ashdown about his opinion on the present conflict in Afghanistan.

His opinions are listened to by many- understandably due to his previous roles in the Balkans and his past as both a leading politician and ex-servicemen. But his opinions have not been appreciated by senior Military leaders.

In ‘The Times’ today, General Richard Shirreff is critical of Lord Ashdown and believes we should stand firm in Afghanistan as we are winning. As he states, Lord Ashdown is wrong to say we have lost the war, and now we must finish the job.
General Shirreff is a very senior General currently holding a senior post in NATO. He should be listened to. I agree with him, we are making a difference and we can bring some form of peace and stability to the region.

Ex-servicemen may have a better understanding on what is happening in a conflict, but you do have to be there to really understand what is happening. So why should I be listened to rather than Paddy Ashdown? The longer you are out of the forces the less you know what is currently going on, sometimes a little knowledge can be dangerous and lead you to the wrong opinion. I left the forces many years after Lord Ashdown left and then went back in 2009 to serve in Afghanistan, so I feel I have a better understanding of what is going on and what soldiers think. I still have friends serving and my younger brother is an apache pilot who has also served in Afghanistan.

General Shirreff, highlights the success we have had in Nad-e-Ali, there has almost been no violence there this year and it was only in 2010 we suffered significant casualties in that area and we only really started operating in the area in 2009.

I am often asked by BBC Radio Suffolk and the local paper for my views on the conflict in Afghanistan. My opinion has not changed – we need to stay and finish the job. Often I sound like a lone voice, it is understandable that families of our servicemen and the British public in general wish to see our brave soldiers home, they do now want to see or hear of anymore more bodies being repatriated. But we rarely hear from serving soldiers- they have an opinion but tend to stay quiet

So I welcome the interview that Richard Shirreff has given and I agree with him. But I am concerned that Mr Hammond the Defence minister, or William Hague or even the Prime Minister have not commented on Lord Ashdown’s views. So what do the Tory Ministers think? Do they have a plan? More serious maybe should be the question- are the views of the Generals the same as the Ministers?

My concern is that when we get near the General Election, the Government will announce a withdrawal of British troops and this will be welcomed by the British public (and become a vote winner) but it will leave Afghanistan in a state of turmoil and violence will return to all parts of this poor country. Once our departure is announced, the Taliban will increase their attacks, we may even see a rise in British casualties.
If we do leave without the job complete, what will those 300 soldiers who have lost their lives died for then?

General Shirreff is right and Paddy Ashdown wrong – but the biggest worry for me is what do Cameron, Hague and Hammond think?

My week ahead 12 - 18 November 2012

Monday 12 November, 4pm - Culture portfolio meeting
6pm - Labour campaigning

Thursday 15 November – Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioners Election

Saturday 17 November, 10am – Labour campaigning in South West Ipswich

This Week we had our latest North east area Committee and I believe it was productive meeting aided by the contributions of some of our younger residents.

Today was Remembrance Sunday, and it seemed to be the largest crowd in attendance for a long time in Christchurch Park, seemed strange to have Apache helicopters fly over at 11am. The last time I had an apache helicopter fly over my head it was a lot lower, faster and it was firing from its chain gun!

Thursday we see a country wide election as have a chance to vote for the first Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner, like many in this country I think the post is not needed and is a waste of money. But the Tory Government were keen to push the role through and though the Lib Dems are not putting candidates up for some reason it was their party who was keen on a November election rat5her than waiting till next May. All this means that it is expected that Thursday will see a very low turnout. But it is important to vote the only real choice is either Jane Basham a Labour supporter but not a politician or the Tory, Mr Passmore, a farmer and a Tory politician who even if elected will stay as on as a Tory councillor in Mid Suffolk.

Jane is concerned about police staffing levels,police morale and also how victims of crime are treated. Mr Passmore seems keener on low council tax and speeding up the process for farmers to renew their shotgun licence!

So this Thursday – go out and vote and make sure that vote is for Jane Basham.

Apache helicopter and a Liberal leaflet!

An afternoon off campaigning yesterday as I managed to get a large amount of leaflets out in the morning, so that I could see Ipswich play their last game ever at Layer Road against Colchester United. That is enough said about the football!!

But whilst having a pre game beer in The Dragoon pub in Colchester, I came across this Lib dem leaflet for Bob Russell the Colchester MP. I just could not believe it, there was a picture of Bob, in desert combats- not sure about the belt or rank badge- but he was stood in front of an Apache Helicopter- one of the British Army's deadliest machines - Just not sure how that can be the main picture on a Liberal leaflet when in most of the county they try and put themselves forward as the ant-war party. Now as MP for Colchester, he should be visiting troops all over the world- but to have a smiling picture in front of an Apache helicopter? then again that may have been a better picture than the one of him being "cuddled" by the Colchester United mascot- some sort of half eagle/half pigeon bird.