7 deaths in 7 days – and there will be many more

Published on Wednesday 8 July 2009 22:02

AN INCREASINGLY war-weary public has been told to expect further casualties in Afghanistan, after the conflict claimed the life of a seventh British serviceman in as many days.

In his first keynote speech since becoming Defence Secretary, Bob Ainsworth delivered a sombre assessment of the situation after eight years of military operations against the Taleban – and warned that "courage and patience" would be needed in the months ahead.

Despite regular losses in the midst of one of the most dangerous phases of the campaign, he insisted progress was being made and that it remained essential to ensure al-Qaeda was denied a renewed foothold to launch fresh terror attacks against Britain and the West.

His comments, in a speech to the Chatham House foreign affairs think tank in London, came amid signs of disquiet in Whitehall over the public's reaction to the lengthening list of British casualties.

Military experts also claimed a failure to provide enough UK troops on the ground and adequate equipment in Afghanistan's Helmand province was leading to more deaths.

Those concerns were given added weight yesterday when a coroner called for the government to review the use of light armoured vehicles and helicopters in Afghanistan after Territorial Army soldier Jack Sadler was killed by a land mine.

Earlier, the Ministry of Defence announced the death of a soldier from the Light Dragoons – the seventh British serviceman killed in the country in the past week.

He had been taking part in the British-led Operation Panther's Claw to clear the Taleban from the central Helmand river valley when he was caught on Tuesday night in an explosion near the town of Gereshk.

His death takes the number of British servicemen and women to die on operations in Afghanistan since 2001 to 176.

The MoD yesterday also named another officer killed in the country. Captain Ben Babington-Browne, from 22 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, died with two Canadian troops in a helicopter crash on Monday.

It follows the death last week of Lieutenant-Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, commanding officer of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, the most senior army officer to be killed on operations since the Falklands War.

Mr Ainsworth said Panther's Claw, and a parallel US operation in southern Helmand, were "crucial" to the international effort to build stability in the country. "Isolating the Taleban and holding the initiative in Helmand is an imperative," he said. "This is hard fighting and, as we have seen, the risks are considerable. But we are making progress."

While there was "palpable momentum" with the arrival of thousands of US reinforcements, he cautioned that ultimate success would not be achieved in a "few short weeks or months".

He went on: "Let us be under no illusion. The situation in Afghanistan is serious – and not yet decided. The way forward is hard and dangerous. More lives will be lost and our resolve will be tested. If we are to succeed, we will need both the courage and the patience to see it through. There is no defined end date – only an end state."

Mr Ainsworth said it was understandable that people were asking whether the mission was "too difficult" in the face of the rising casualty figures. But he insisted the campaign in Afghanistan – from where al-Qaeda hatched the 9/11 terror attacks on the US – went "to the heart" of Britain's own national security.

"Our troops are in Afghanistan to keep our country safe from the threat of terrorism. If we leave now, the Taleban will take control and al-Qaeda will return," he said. "This is why some 9,000 British personnel from all three services are in Afghanistan. This is why they are risking their lives for us."

The Defence Secretary said "every effort" was being made to ensure the troops had improved protection from deadly roadside bombs, with the introduction of heavily armoured vehicles such as the Mastiff and Ridgeback.

The threat was also being dealt with by targeting the networks that build and supply the bombs, he said.

"Let us be clear, sacrificing manoeuvre for heavy armour in every circumstance is not the answer," he said. "When we target the bombmakers and take out the capacity to produce, we cut the threat."

But during a question and answer session, he faced an angry attack from former diplomat Sir Brian Crowe over a continuing shortage of helicopters.

"My son had to lead his company in Afghanistan on an all-night approach march carrying 70 kilos and then do a dawn assault because there weren't enough helicopters," Sir Brian said. "Why on earth are there not now enough helicopters? Why do we still have to borrow them, make and mend? Why can't we just buy some more helicopters?"

However, Mr Ainsworth insisted helicopter capacity had been boosted by the arrival of additional US aircraft. He also rejected criticism of the government's decision not to deploy more British troops, despite plans drawn up by military chiefs for 2,000 reinforcements.

But the decision to send only one-third of the extra troops they requested ahead of Afghan elections next month was attacked by a former army chief.

Colonel Bob Stewart, who led British forces in Bosnia, told The Scotsman the UK's commitment in Afghanistan had allowed the Taleban to return "like a tide".

"The question is, do we want to sort Helmand out or not? If so, we've got to get on with it. Waiting around is the worst scenario. You may as well withdraw."

And he appeared to take a sideswipe at the head of the army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, who warned in 2006 that there was a danger that the campaign in Iraq could "break" the British Army.

"Some of the people who are now saying 'You should be doing more and putting more troops in there' are some of the people who said a little while ago 'You are breaking the army' and 'We're doing too much'," he said.

Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said that despite Mr Ainsworth's assurances, troops in Afghanistan still did not have enough armoured vehicles or helicopters.

"The bottom line from our troops is they don't have enough armoured vehicles and they don't have enough helicopters. The government needs to act," Mr Fox said.

Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Nick Harvey said: "Rather than trying to cover his back, Bob Ainsworth should do his job and ensure our troops have the kit they need to do theirs."

Last salute to 'talented' soldier

THE death of an "exceptionally talented" Welsh guardsman killed last month in Afghanistan was "an enormous loss" to the battalion, a fellow army major said yesterday.

Major Dai Bevan of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards was speaking outside the funeral of Major Sean Birchall, 33, who died in an explosion in central Helmand Province on 19 June.

He said the death was "a tragic loss to the Welsh Guards alongside the Guards' other casualties killed in action".

"Major Sean Birchall was an outstandingly talented individual – and I don't use that word lightly – he was utterly professional in everything he did and most importantly he was an exceptionally passionate commander," he said.

Major Birchall was in charge of "a very complex company" and it was down to "his inspirational leadership" that his men bonded so quickly. "This is an enormous loss," he added.

Major Birchall was laid to rest after a Roman Catholic service at the Guards Chapel in London's Wellington Barracks.

Friends and colleagues were joined by members of Major Birchall's family including his widow Joanna. The congregation heard a series of Bible readings and tributes from both the family and senior Army colleagues, including Colonel Sandy Malcolm OBE.

Hymns such as Men of Harlech reflected the battalion's Welsh heritage.

When Major Birchall was killed his commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, was among those who spoke in glowing terms of his professionalism and inspirational leadership. Tragically, Lieutenant Colonel Thorneloe was himself killed last week – becoming the most senior British Army officer killed since the Falklands War.

Mrs Birchall, mother of 18-month-old Charlie, said: "Sean was a wonderful husband, a doting father and a much-loved son and brother, who cared deeply for his family and friends."

LAURA MAY

The 'brightest star'

THE mother of a British officer killed in a helicopter crash after volunteering to serve in Afghanistan said he was one of the brightest stars in the sky.

Captain Ben Babington-Browne, 27, from 22 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, died in the southern Zabul Province on Monday.

His mother, Nina, said the soldier's family and friends were heartbroken.

She said in a statement: "One of the brightest stars in the firmament has been lost in the line of a duty."

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