Downing Street Says » Afghanistan

» Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Afghanistan

Put that the situation in Afghanistan was anything but routine and asked to elaborate on how bad the crisis was, the Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) told the assembled press that he did not accept the premise of the question. The PMS added that he had said the word routine in the sense that this was what the Ministry of Defence called the roulement, which signified the normal turnover of troops.

The Prime Minister made clear in his statement to the House in December that there were many difficult issues that we faced in Afghanistan and we had a long-term commitment in the country. This was not only a military commitment; there were also political, economic and development issues as well.

Asked if it was true that military commanders wanted 600 more troops than had been sent, the PMS replied that it was worth checking with MoD on the matter. As far as he was aware, what had been announced today, had been announced with the agreement of military staff. Asked if he was aware that what had been announced had been what was requested, the PMS said that he was not aware of any suggestion that what had been requested had not been granted.

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