Well that didn't take long
Was following up trying to get some more info on the previous Gordon Brown post and ran into
this article at ITN News:
Brown sets out plans for Afghanistan
Gordon Brown has set out his strategy for redeveloping Afghanistan, saying the UK will "not enter into any negotiations" with insurgents.
Addressing the Commons just days after visiting the country for the first time as Prime Minister, he told MPs the coalition is "winning the battle against the insurgency.
Mr Brown said the leadership of the Taliban is being isolated and eliminated but negotiations are not being entered with them.
As part of the redevelopment plan, he said Britain will make available �450 million in assistance between 2009 and 2012.
He also outlined what Britain can do to build on military victories such as Tuesday's end to the hard-fought battle to retake the Taliban stronghold of Musa Qala.
Mr Brown said British forces will get 150 new protected patrol vehicles as well as extra Sea King helicopters and new contracts for commercial helicopters to move freight.
He also urged Afghan President Hamid Karzai to press ahead with "targeted eradication" policies against the poppy crop in Helmand.
The plan, which follows an internal review of Afghanistan policy which began in the summer, has been described as a "shift in emphasis" rather than a completely new approach.
British forces had pulled out last year after striking a peace agreement which gave responsibility for security to the Afghan elders.
However, weeks later it was overrun by the Taliban and become a major hub of the heroin trade which has helped finance the uprising.
Following talks with Mr Karzai in the capital Kabul on Monday, Mr Brown emphasised the importance of the reconstruction effort alongside continuing military operations.
Emphasis mine -- that is exactly what will happen every time if you do not foster nation-building and strength from within; you leave and the power-hungry thugs brutally step in and take over.
It will be interesting to see if there was actually an announcement and then smarter people moved in with damage control or if this was a
Fake but Accurate news item made up by someone who was wishful thinking... The Evening Standard link in the last post is dead now so someone pulled the plug very quickly.
Posted by DaveH at December 12, 2007 9:45 AM