[Previous entry: "Rise of white gangs"] [Next entry: "Black Police Association accuses the Met of racism. (UK)"]

10/06/2008: "War on Taliban can't be won, says army chief"

The most senior British commander in Afghanistan has said the British public should not expect a "decisive military victory" by coalition troops and has spoken about the possibility of holding security talks with the Taliban.

In an interview published today, Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith said "we're not going to win this war" and the aim was not total victory but reducing the insurgency to a low level, something which could involve talks with the Taliban.

Carleton-Smith, the commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade, said the objective was to enlarge the Afghan army so it could take over the security of the country.

[ Only a matter of months ago the west felt that victory over the Taliban was assured. Now they face defeat. The whole operation was a pointless and destructive mistake. There was never going to be any advantage to us from going there. ]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/05/afghanistan