UK: Reinforcements for Afghanistan ‘within a month’…
The Government is expected to announce reinforcements for British troops in Afghanistan within a month, in a victory for military commanders over politicians in Westminster.
Officials said the resultant furore had prompted Downing Street to signal it would almost certainly accept a new proposal to increase numbers. The Armed Forces minister Bill Rammell indicated a decision may be “imminent” and a review would take place after the Afghan elections in less than a month. He said that troop numbers were “kept under review jointly by the service chiefs, ministers and the Prime Minister”.
General Sir Richard Dannatt, the outgoing head of the Army, and his successor, General Sir David Richards, favour an increase of up to 2,500. It is expected the Government will initially announce that the 700-strong “temporary” force will become permanent.
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