Wrong time to call for troop withdrawl
AS AN ex-serviceman with 25 years service, and someone who has a son who is still serving after 20 years service, I consider that at best, it is inappropriate, and at worst insulting, to compare the involvement of British forces in Afghanistan with that of mainly conscript Soviet forces, during their campaign from 1979 to their withdrawal in 1989. (Letters 2 March Barbara Hodgkinson)
It is ironic that during the Soviet-Afghan war, the Mujahideen found support from a variety of sources including the United States and United Kingdom through the context of the Cold War, with the result that the mainly conscript Soviet forces were no match for the combined resistance to their occupation. It is eqally ironic that what led to the inglorious withdrawal of United States troops, (also with a high conscript level), from Vietnam was the lack of popular support back home, plus the preoccupation with "Watergate" and a reluctance to spend further resources on the campaign.
For almost half a century, the British armed forces have consisted of volunteers, who have achieved success in all the major conflicts they have been involved in, such as for example the Falklands War, and the Kuwait invasion.
Along with their allies, they helped to stabilise the former Yugoslavia following the civil wars in the breakaway countries. Their expertise is widely recognised and respected.
I suggest that it is neither the time nor the place to be calling for a withdrawal from Afghanistan. The British forces are currently engaged in a major operation alongside a massive United States contingent and are currently achieving success against a ruthless enemy, whose aim is to return the country to a state of barbarism. It is also worth noting that a total of 38 countries are supporting the invasion. Sadly there may be parts of the United Kingdom, and even in other areas of Yorkshire, that may be less than supportive, but North Yorkshire is a very patriotic county that has always given total support to its servicemen and women, and particularly so at this time. Neither of the main political parties is advocating any change in our position in the near future, so perhaps we should not be calling for a withdrawal, even though there has been an increase in casualties of late. If we were to withdraw now, this would mean that the sacrifice of all Yorkshire servicemen has been in vain.
A much better history lesson from past conflicts must be the subsequent outcome, following the decision by the then Labour government in 1967, to withdraw our forces earlier than previously planned, from what was then the British colony of Aden. As soon as the last British troops had departed, (Vietnam style, by helicopter to a waiting aircraft carrier!), there ensued a bloodbath between rival factions, which in turn led to a prolonged civil war in the whole of Yemen. Following other withdrawals from our overseas bases in the Middle East and Far East throughout the 1970s, subsequent international terrorism created severe economic problems for the United Kingdom, which in turn must have led Argentina to think that we were unlikely to react to their invasion of the Falklands in 1982.It is perhaps significant that there has been some "sabre rattling" by Argentina earlier this year.
Those who have lost loved ones in Afghanistan, should not have to be told that the war and thus their bereavement was as a result of a futile war. They should be able to take some comfort from the fact that almost all the country, and particularly the loyal and patriotic Borough of Scarborough, are extremely grateful for the sacrifices that have been made in their name.
Mick Thompson
Byward Drive
Crossgates
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Friday 25 May 2012
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