THE Government cannot 'put a time limit' on the war in Afghanistan, the defence secretary said.
Bob Ainsworth said he hoped to see 'significant' progress in training local forces to take responsibility for security within a year.
But he warned the Labour conference in Brighton today: This is our war... We cannot afford NOT to be there.
Mr Ainsworth admitted the recent elections in Afghanistan plagued by low turnouts and reports of vote-rigging were 'not everything we had hoped'.
But the fact they took place at all, despite the Taliban determination to stop them, is an achievement, he added.
The defence secretary also hit out at critics who claim the government is failing to provide British troops with effective equipment.
Scrutiny
"It is right that the government is subject to scrutiny," he said.
"I believe the national interest must come before party politics."
"If there are ways in which we can do better, no one wants to know them more than I.
"But those who suggest the government is failing in its duty by having helicopters in 'Hampshire rather than Helmand' misunderstand that having a sustainable force in theatre requires a training fleet back in Britain."
"A minority of critics have simply ignored the facts in an attempt to discredit the Labour government."
"Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox claimed that Ridgeback armoured vehicles were stranded at Dubai for lack of airlift to take them to the theatre...
"In reality these vehicles were being sent to Afghanistan ahead of schedule.
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Showing comments 1 to 12 and replies | View All
Ran Droid, Manchester (01/10/2009 at 15:09)
Audenshaw Bob (01/10/2009 at 15:14)
I couldn't do it.
How can an ex-postman deal with day to day legal issues as Home Secretary?
I am all for peole rising to the top but normally it would be something like postman-depot manager-regional manager-national manager etc.
Not car fitter, trade union steward, MP-heading up Ministry of Defence. Crazy.
To do a job you usually need experience in that filed. Imagine Texaco advertising for a Chief Executive and you applied and it said Career Experience: Teacher on it. Would you even get a letter telling you 'we'll keep you on file'? No. Straight in the bin, but you want to run a council or run the country then go right ahead. It should be a job for people with experience. How about a Colonel running the MoD?
At least this Ainsworth bloke wasn't wearing a £21,500 watch like Mandelson. Party of the people eh? Yes, most people on council etstes can relate to someone with a £21k watch.
Mamaduke, Broad Street (01/10/2009 at 15:47)
Theowolfe (01/10/2009 at 15:58)
Because Bob no matter who wins the general elections the establishment always gets in. All Governments in Britain have always been fit for aggression.
The Government is no more than a bunch of managers whose only control on running things is that of nuance and emphasis. The real power lies elsewhere.
Squire of Newton, Newton nr. Hyde (01/10/2009 at 16:08)
He might be more use out there, than he is here as a empty headed NuLab politician,
Chuckster, Cheshire (01/10/2009 at 16:32)
Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (01/10/2009 at 16:54)
He would soon be asking the question 'is it a worthwhile risk' we know Iraq was about oil, not sure about Afganistan though.
He would also be insisting on more money set aside for decent weapons, something Blair and Brown have shy'd away from. One thing he wouldn't be doing is expecting our boys to fight with their hands tied by red tape and insufficient weapons in a war not of our making.
RT, UK (01/10/2009 at 23:23)
Then we need a change of government as soon as possible.
The reasons for being there change almost daily. As time goes by, those reasons are fine tuned along propaganda lines. Brown will just follow the US anyway, he is just a replacement poodle.
Guten Tag, Manchester (02/10/2009 at 11:56)
Yes, we must stay in Afghanistan because if we leave, the Taliban will raise up, rebuild it's forces and then make plans to invade Britain and wage war... And 3, 2, 1, your back in the room. Alternatively, we can pull out now and the money saved spent on making Britain's boarders stronger. Afghanistan will revert to what it's always been for over 100 years, ruled by whoever waves the biggest gun. The country truly is a lost cause and Blair and Co should and probably did know it before invading it. Whether we spend another month or another decade there, once we leave they will revert back to their old ways.
Bring back the lads and lasses, now. Hero's one and all.
Esso Blue, Manchester (02/10/2009 at 17:10)
Mr Mancunian, Sydney Australia (02/10/2009 at 20:15)
The stories that come out of Britain about the bestial cruelty of this group of youthful no hopers makes sad, sad reading. And what about the sentences handed down when these morons are apprehended? Absolutely laughable.
Forget the war on terror in Afghanistan. Clean up your own back yard first.
Theowolfe (03/10/2009 at 10:43)
The vast majority of young people cause absolutely no problems but are yet demonised by comments such as this.