Next Gen News

damning report of the Committee for the Defence of failures in individual work, intelligence and equipment led to the loss of life

The five-year campaign in the British Army in southern Afghanistan has unfortunately been hampered by limited resources and inadequate equipment, according to a damning report by MPs.

Defending the Commons select committee, which was the analysis of British operations in Helmand province since 2006, said it was "unacceptable" British forces have been disadvantaged by a inadequate number, poor equipment and poor quality of intelligence on the deployment began.

For the first three years of operation - including 132 British personnel were killed and more than 2,000 were hospitalized in Helmand province - the victory was more or less inaccessible given the level workforce, military vehicles and the available knowledge of the enemy.

The initial deployment of 3,500 soldiers in Helmand province, of which about 1,000 were infantry, was not "full account" the report said.

James Arbuthnot, a former Conservative minister of defense and chairman, said. "Deployed force levels in 2006, 2007 and 2008 is never going to achieve what is necessary"

As the conflict progressed, the Department of Defense has been criticized for failing to meet the changing tactics of the Taliban, who switched from conventional warfare to guerrilla tactics, attacks suicide and IED artifacts. In particular, a lack of bomb-proof vehicles and support the fight against the IED was a serious mistake that almost certainly cost lives in Britain. The armor is weak first sent to Helmand province - the Snatch Land Rover and armor dating from 1960 -. Provides minimal protection
"It took a while to get an adequate fleet capacity in the theater. The Department of Defense must give priority to the protection of staff to consider the financing of these needs that arise in the future, "says the report. Even now, he adds, British forces still do not have enough helicopters. A dispute over the supply of Whitehall, an additional 12 Chinook helicopters in Helmand province, has not yet been resolved.