BBC News Updated every minute of every day

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 10:14 GMT 11:14 UK

I notice the UK terrorist threat level has been lowered from "severe" to "substantial". Is this a government response to the criticism that it is not supplying our troops properly - simply change the arbitrary threat level then claim that they are funding at the correct level in relation to the threat? I wouldnt put it past them.
Support your armed forces!

Rh, Oop North

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 10:10 GMT 11:10 UK

We need to take a different approach.

Yes more troops and Helicopters wil help us win the battles.

However we are seen as the Crusader by the Taliban due to our country being a Chirstian country.

With Christians killing Muslims the more Taliban we kill the easier it is for the Taleban to recruit.

We are vindicating their arguments.

Security in Afghanistan should be provided by Muslim troops.

We should take a lesser role as our presence inflames the situation.

Algenon Razzmatazz, Dimload, United Kingdom

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 10:09 GMT 11:09 UK

The Taliban were made powerful by the United States as Pol Pot and Pinochet. The military method of opposing them is no more sensible than for their creation.
The European approch needs to be upbuilding to forge links with the people so they see as us friends and our life style something helpful.

Rebekka Lewinski, Vienna

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 10:07 GMT 11:07 UK

Can we succeed? I certainly hope so because if we dont, we are in real danger of creating a middle eastern mess that will spiral out of control rapidly. Its no longer about whether we should be out there or not, we are and we have to finish the job.

Nick Harding, Bristol, United Kingdom

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 09:58 GMT 10:58 UK

Not by force of arms alone, perhaps some dialogue needs to be opened with the taliban?

James, Portsmouth

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 09:51 GMT 10:51 UK

"Let Afghans decide their destiny without fear and harassment prior elections."

Abdul Kassi, United Kingdom

Ridding them of the Taliban would enable them to do just that.

Thrusting Raspberry III, Eastbourne

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 09:44 GMT 10:44 UK

If the campaign is to continue in Afghanistan, the need for more man power and resources is certainly unequivocal. Indeed the need is far greater than the UK can provide. Even the Soviet Union at the height of its military power, with universal conscription, failed.

The Taliban is thriving in its role as rescuer of Afghanistan from foreign invaders. The sacrifices of British and American troops are aiding rather than hindering the expansion of its support.

Get out now.

[stanblogger], Glasgow, United Kingdom

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 09:30 GMT 10:30 UK

Whether we can win or lose is irrelevant,the fact is that we have to try and control the extremists who want to destroy our way of life and they are rooted in Afghanistan.Our presence is mandatory until the next generation of Afghans can be educated to turn away from making money through drugs and supporting Islamic terrorism. Unfortunately it will take a generation to resolve this so expect a long mission folks.

Jings Crivvens

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 09:26 GMT 10:26 UK

why didnt Hutton speak out when he was in charge? His authority would have counted for more than simply speaking out as a backbencher. Too many people in authority seem to wait till they have their pension/honours before coming out to lambaste this penny pinching PM.
The forces need our support otherwise this government, headed by a PM who has contempt for the forces will run them into the ground and disbanded in favour of a european defence force - another useless stupid expensive euro idea.

Geo, Glasgow

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 09:20 GMT 10:20 UK

The more I hear from Lord (?) Mandelson the more I start to think that he is the second best thing for the Conservatives. An unelected, jumped up, arrogant, bombastic polititian spouting about something he knows nothing about and never will. We will never see him in Afghanistan roughing it and what gives him the right or authority to speak on behalf of a semi elected Government? When a Government cannot speak as one because the subject is so devicive, then what hope do the troops have of support

hacked off, matlock

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 09:18 GMT 10:18 UK

The British army has already succeeded in Afghanistan, by making life extremely difficult for the Taleban, and protecting the fledgeling democracy that exists in some regions.

I don't believe we should've been there in the first place, however being a pragmatist I believe we should now see things through to a positive conclusion.

As for the political arguments - we cannot provide every single pieve of equipment to the army. Just like the NHS or education sector, there's a limit to funds.

Leon Bronstein, The Ghetto, United Kingdom

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 08:54 GMT 09:54 UK

Maybe there should be rule that during a war the MP expenses are directed fully to the war budget until the war is over. The only problem is we would have a sloppy gov who would rush the war and leave before the job is complete.

Unifying control is a bad idea. The gov interferes too much. Look at the NHS,soldiers,manufacturing,immigration,etc all from too much red tape and gov interference. They should be overseeing the smooth running of the UK, not running it.

Wayne, Lancashire

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 08:53 GMT 09:53 UK

How can you win a war against suicidal maniacs who are willing to deliberately take their own lives?.
These people have religion drummed into them in such a thwarted way that they believe they are doing good by blowing themselves up and killing countless others in the process, the americans and the british are just making matters worse by being there, i think its all in vain, a complete waste of time, money, effort, and life, they die, they become martyr's, what becomes of our soldiers? vanity

tez tez

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 08:39 GMT 09:39 UK

When did we become a set of whingers? The beauty of the soldier is that he does not need to worry about what the government or the civpop does.

Lets do what we get paid to do (1 or 2 chinooks won't make alot of difference anyway)

You can never take the danger out of war. War is war and people die. My opinion is that as long as my personal kit is squared, and my drills and skills are up to standard then the rest will fall into place. No more beefing about rations etc etc. this is what we do

Philip, Hull

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 08:37 GMT 09:37 UK

"We won Iraq, we'll win this"

I'm sure the citizens of Diyala, Ramadi and Anbar will be glad to hear that the war in Iraq is over - particularly after the deaths of American troops, policemen and civilians in the last 24 hours.

Iraq is now a hell-hole, much more dangerous, violent and polarized than it was before the invasion.

We can win very easily in Afghanistan, if our definition of victory is upping sticks and leaving them to it, as was the case in Iraq.

The Boy Wonders, UK, United Kingdom