Richard Osley has tried to examine the performance and aims of British forces in Afghanistan in Independent. I cannot question his assessment of their performance but aims are really doubtful. Anyway passing only in 3 out of 9 aims is nothing to be proud of. Its good that there is a Brown’s secret plan to cut Afghanistan force by 1500.
Strategic aims: how Britain is faring in Afghanistan
Stop terrorist plans for attacks on the UK
* MoD’s main stated aims include: “Deny al-Qa’ida its Afghan base”.
* Terrorist bunkers bombed out, training camps disrupted.
* Operations did not prevent attacks on London transport network.
* Fear plotting continues among terrorists in Pakistan and fghanistan.
Verdict: Failure
Avoid a bloody war
* Former defence secretary John Reid said he hoped British forces would leave without “a single shot being fired”.
* More than four million bullets fired by the British Army in a year, as conflict intensified.
* More soldiers have died there, 184 in all, than in Iraq.
Verdict: Failure
Catch Osama Bin Laden
* Post 9/11, al-Qa’ida’s most recognisable figure became world’s most wanted man.
* Afghanistan refused to extradite him before he went into hiding.
* His whereabouts unknown, remains an inspiration to insurgents.
Verdict: Failure
End Taliban rule in Afghanistan
* Taliban rule included laws against educating women and activities such as watching TV. Al-Qa’ida operatives were provided with shelter.
* Military intervention ended its control in 2001.
* Taliban still an insurgent force with undeterred remnants proving a dangerous enemy.
Verdict: Pass
Bring democracy to Afghanistan
* First elections run solely by the Afghan government take place next month.
* Provincial polls took place after Taliban’s fall.
* Elections generate waves of violent protests.
* Nato warned the new government “remains limited” and prone to corruption.
Verdict: Pass
Keep the region stable
* Armed forces want to contain targets to Afghanistan.
* Taliban insurgents crossed borders, leading to bloody battle with Pakistan army in Swat Valley, with tens of thousands fleeing their homes.
Verdict: Failure
Make the streets safe
* Troops completed missions to clear unexploded mines.
* Soldiers gain increasing trust of civilians.
* Nato recently warned recently the number of civilian deaths “remains a serious concern”.
* More than 2,000 Afghan civilians died last year in insurgent attacks.
Verdict: Failure
Improve life for Afghanis
* British money repaired dams and provided irrigation.
* Massive increase in children going to school, including large numbers of girls for the first time.
* Average life expectancy is 44, while disease and poverty are widespread.
* Large swathes of the country are unconnected to safe water supplies.
Verdict: More work needed
Stop the drug trade
* Concentrated battle against poppy field drug barons who supply world’s heroin market from Afghanistan.
* US experts fear blowing up poppy crops backfired, driving desperate farmers to sympathise with insurgent forces.
* Farmers struggling with alternative crops in the dry conditions.
Verdict: Failure
Preserve oil/gas access
* Afghanistan traditionally a perfect route for exporting oil and gas to Western countries.
* US set up deals with Afghanistan’s neighbours to ensure smoother exports.
* Agreements criticised for being made with countries having poor human rights records.
Verdict: Pass
