Britain to commit nearly 6,000 troops to Afghanistan

[ECH1969]

Britain will deploy nearly 6,000 troops to Afghanistan - more than expected - over the next few months in the biggest and most hazardous military operation since the invasion of Iraq, the cabinet has agreed.

Most of the troops will be based in Helmand province, hostile territory at the heart of the country's opium poppy area, in a three-year deployment costing 1bn.

John Reid, the defence secretary, admitted the dangers but said the risks were less than "handing back Afghanistan to the Taliban and terrorists". He added that 90% of the heroin reaching Britain's streets came from Afghanistan.

He said the chiefs of staff had told him the deployment was manageable and did not depend on reducing the number of British troops - now about 8,500 - in Iraq.

http://www.kashar.net/complete.asp?id=3118

[leesa]

1. All for a pipeline. Someone should let the troops know the Chines and

Indians already scooped us on that deal. There's no reason to be in Afghanistan at all. The transAfghan pipeline is a bust.

[enigma000]

4. oh man, really?

I never expected the Chinese and the Indians to actually take action. Man, I hate it when people and nations actually do things.

So, when can my country's troops come home? They are starting to die in this pipeline war.......

[Warren Stupidity]

2. Things must be going exceedingly well

in the republic of kabul.

[IndianaGreen]

3. Funny that it is the same warlords that supported the war against Taliban

that are now protecting their poppy crops. It is our fault for trying to interfere in poppy production.