Britain Seeks Quick Afghanistan Withdrawal

Liam Fox, Great Britain’s new Minister of Defense, wants to withdraw British units from Afghanistan as quickly as possible, saying Great Britain is not “a global policeman.”

The British government, according to their new Minister of Defense Liam Fox, wants a speedy withdrawal of their troops from Afghanistan. Prior to his surprise visit to the Hindu Kush on Saturday, Fox told the Times, “We need to accept we are at the limit of numbers now and I would like the forces to come back as soon as possible.” He added, “We have to reset expectations and timelines.”

Fox went on to say that the focus now was on national security and that Great Britain was not a global policeman. He said soldiers were there “so the people of Britain and our global interests are not threatened.”

Faster Training for Afghan Security Forces

During a visit to Afghanistan with Foreign Minister William Hague and Minister for International Development Andrew Mitchell, Fox said he hopes to determine whether it would be possible to accelerate training for Afghan security forces.

Fox also said President Hamid Karzai believes the Afghan police and military could take over national security duties by 2014, and he wants to discuss ramped up training with those commanders on the scene.

Guttenberg: Withdrawal Could Mean Collapse

German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, meanwhile, has warned against a hasty withdrawal of German troops from Afghanistan. He told the newspaper “Hamburger Abendblatt” that such a withdrawal would increase the danger that the country could collapse. He added, “If Afghanistan falls, Pakistan, a nuclear nation, could be next. I wouldn’t like to see nuclear weapons in the hands of terrorists.”

Guttenberg also said that, from a purely military standpoint, the war against terror in Afghanistan, Pakistan or in African nations was unwinnable. He said that better cooperation between intelligence services was necessary. “In addition, we have to position ourselves so we can engage the enemy with special forces at whatever location the international community deems necessary,” he added. Guttenberg also said civilian reconstruction would have to play an increased role.

10,000 British Troops in Afghanistan

There are currently about 10,000 British troops serving in Afghanistan, making Great Britain the second largest participant in the Hindu Kush after the United States. The U.S. has 130,000 troops in Afghanistan and intends to add an additional 20,000 soldiers by this summer before their planned withdrawal.

British troops serve primarily in the southern Helmand Province against the Taliban. Since the beginning of the campaign in 2001, 286 British and 1,081 American soldiers have lost their lives in Afghanistan.

Military operations continue in Afghanistan unabated: On Saturday, NATO troops south of Kabul killed at least 12 Afghans. According to an official spokesperson, the troops killed two insurgents in the act of planting explosive devices in Paktia Province. When other insurgents went to remove the bodies, the NATO troops called in helicopter support that resulted in the deaths of another 10 persons. Officials have begun investigations in order to ensure that all victims were actually insurgents, as claimed by American troops.