North West MEP Calls For Troops Out Of Afghanistan
North West MEP Chris Davies is calling for British troops to be pulled off the frontline in Afghanistan. He says he is no longer convinced by the justifications given for their presence.
The Liberal Democrat has written to his party leader, Nick Clegg, saying that military action can only be approved when the objective is clear and that this is far from the case in Afghanistan.
Instead he is calling for NATO to talk with the Taliban, to press for a power-sharing agreement, and to use money as a tool to try and buy influence and curb abuses.
"I do not believe that our continuing presence in Afghanistan is making the streets of Britain any safer," said Davies. "Al-Qaida has left and it is too easy for us now to be portrayed as an occupying force in a foreign land, fighting for one side in a civil war, and seeking to impose our cultural beliefs on others. This rallies radical Muslim men to the Taliban cause."
With expectations high that more troops will soon be sent to Afghanistan to help in a campaign "surge", the MEP warns that even if the Taliban are pushed back they may not be defeated.
"This is guerilla warfare. Taliban commanders can withdraw to fight another day. Local fighters can cut their beards, bury their weapons, and reappear as hard working farmers, which is what they indeed may be. But the weapons can one day be dug up again."
The MEP says that the extent of corruption and fraud in the recent elections had proved the final straw. "I detest the Taliban and its treatment of women, but I am not convinced that British soldiers should die or be maimed to support a bunch of corrupt war lords who care not a jot for human rights."
"If ever we should claim "success," how will we know if it has any meaning?"
Davies claims that if Britain is to be made safer it needs to address the causes of grievance that arouses anger amongst many Muslims. He believes that the war in Iraq did great damage, that the campaign in Afghanistan may do the same, and that the anger of Muslim's against the failure to challenge the injustice experienced by Palestinians is too often underestimated.
"We have got ourselves stuck up a blind alley in Afghanistan, and we need to get out as soon as possible," claimed the MEP. "More than 200 British soldiers have already been killed, and many more grievously wounded. Let us not have more soldiers killed because politicians are too unwilling to lose face, or too embarrassed to admit that lives have been lost in vain."
ENDS
Text of letter from Chris Davies MEP to Nick Clegg MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats.
Dear Nick
Withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan
I write to urge you to call for the phased but urgent withdrawal of British troops from military engagement in Afghanistan.
The justification for our presence in the country varies with the day of the week and the desperation of the advocate. Our government has variously cited the need to inflict total defeat upon Al Qaida, whose leaders have long since left the country, prevention of the return of the Taliban, the advancement of democracy, women’s emancipation, and the curbing of the drugs trade.
I read that the Conservative spokesman, Liam Fox, claims that our soldiers fight in Afghanistan “for our security at home,” but this justification is as spurious as that of George W. Bush’s pretence that the invasion of Iraq was linked to the defeat of Al Qaida. It pays no regard to the origin of those who have committed terrorist attacks in Britain.
The presence of American, British and other European troops in Afghanistan, almost all of a culture and religion that is entirely foreign, is giving succour to those who oppose us. The presence of an invading and occupying force rallies our opponents and undermines objections to the Taliban. As we seek to avoid casualties we fall back on the use of technology that allows us to attack and bomb from afar; all too often resulting in the killing of innocent Afghans. The support we briefly had from local people turns to hatred.
I count myself amongst those who detested the Taliban regime that governed before 2001. I loathed its cruelty and, in particular, its misogyny and suppression of women’s rights to work and education. But I am conscious that I have in the past turned a blind eye to the cruelty of our “allies”, the Afghan war lords to whom the concept of liberty is foreign. I also question our right to interfere in the social practices of Afghanistan when we do not intervene in the affairs of other countries where practices, such as female genital mutilation, are also abhorrent.
Defeat of the Taliban may prove impossible whatever resources and lives are thrown against them. Its various local commanders can withdraw in the face of overwhelming odds, only to return when troop numbers have been reduced. Individual fighters can cut their beards, bury their weapons, and pose as hard working farmers – which indeed is what they may be. The weapons can be dug up again at any time.
If we are to reduce the threat of attacks against Britain we must win hearts and minds and address the perceived grievances of those who may support such actions. Our attack on Iraq did great damage. Our “occupation of Afghanistan” risks the same. Our double standards and failure to address the injustice experienced by Palestinians is a source of anger across the Muslim world the importance of which we too often underestimate.
In Afghanistan the way forward is not by means of frontal attack but through diplomacy. We can provide continuing assistance to train Afghan soldiers and police officers, but foreign troops should not be on the ground attacking Afghans. We must talk with Taliban leaders, and we should be open about the need to use our money to promote stability; money in the form of bribes to war lords and as development assistance to Taliban leaders Cash payments can help maintain dialogue, promote the gathering of intelligence, prevent assistance being provided to Al Qaida, and perhaps enable us to have some influence in curbing the worst abuses of women’s rights.
We must also strengthen the financial and diplomatic assistance we give to the authorities in Pakistan.
I am, of course, very conscious that money and aid may not be sufficient without troops on the ground in Afghanistan. But the fraud associated with the recent elections has exposed the reality that we are working with a government in Kabul that has little authority and no legitimacy. By all accounts it is inherently corrupt, and given its need to maintain the support of various provincial warlords, corruption may be necessary for its very existence. The government may be the best there is but its morality is not such as can command our respect.
My fear is that too many politicians cannot countenance the loss of face involved in accepting that the strategy pursued to date is failing. They are embarrassed to admit that lives of our soldiers may have been lost in vain. They give support for our position as allies of the USA higher priority than independent decisions to promote Britain’s national interests. None of these factors should be accepted as reasons to tolerate the continuing death and maiming of British soldiers in an engagement that has no clear objective and is, I believe, counterproductive to Britain’s interests.
Afghanistan has defeated the British in the past. It has defeated the Russians. I believe it will defeat Americans with their British and European allies. Our troops should not be there.
With regards.
Yours sincerely
Chris Davies MEP
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