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Oh no...Ainsworthless says we have enough kit...

spike7451

       RIP        
So that means what?Labour spin or kit rushed thru by the lowest bidder?...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8385539.stm


The UK's armed forces have the vehicles and equipment needed to commit 500 more personnel to Afghanistan, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth has said.

A ministerial committee is expected to be told by the chief of the defence staff that kit supplies are adequate.

This was one of three conditions Gordon Brown said must be met before he would send more troops. He will say if the others have been met later this week.

It comes a day before President Obama's announcement on US troop commitments.

Confirming the military had enough equipment, Mr Ainsworth said "a lot of work" had been done to make sure the conditions set by the prime minister had been met.


What we need is a political push to match the military push we're now agreeing to
Gordon Brown

As well as the availability of equipment, Mr Brown said in October that Britain's Nato allies must agree to send more troops to share the burden, and Afghan President Hamid Karzai must also commit to train more local forces to fight alongside Western soldiers.

Merlins ready

The National Security, International Relations and Development Committee, which is chaired by the prime minister, will meet on Monday morning in London.

Chief of the defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Jock Stirrup, is expected to report that equipment levels have been increased since troop numbers were boosted to 9,000 in August.


ANALYSIS
caroline wyatt
By Caroline Wyatt, defence correspondent, BBC News
Following constant negative headlines about shortages of equipment and helicopters in Helmand over recent months, the government is keen to show the 500 extra troops will have what they need before they are deployed.

The number of armoured vehicles and helicopters has been increased to ensure all soldiers will be fully equipped for the operations they are asked to undertake.

The recently-arrived Merlin helicopters have been given the green light for operations in Afghanistan, while more heavily armoured vehicles such as Mastiffs and Ridgbacks are now in Helmand.

But the two remaining conditions depend on others. One is that Britain's Nato allies agree to send more troops to share the burden, while President Karzai must show his government's commitment to train and send more Afghan forces to fight alongside Britain's.

The wait for those conditions to be met still leaves 500 British soldiers unsure exactly when they'll deploy.

Ahead of the meeting, the government announced that recently arrived Merlin helicopters had been given the green light for operations a month ahead of schedule.

They have undergone a £42.5m upgrade programme since returning from operations in Iraq to prepare them for the different conditions in Afghanistan - in particular high altitudes and very wide ranges of temperatures.

The Ministry of Defence also said the number of heavily armoured Mastiff and Ridgback vehicles available to troops had increased significantly in recent months.

Earlier this year, Sir Jock said he was "busting a gut" to ensure more helicopters were sent to Afghanistan.

The head of the army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, also said he had given the government a "shopping list" of equipment.

The US, meanwhile, has been undertaking an exhaustive review of its strategy in Afghanistan after its top commander, Gen Stanley McChrystal, asked for at least 40,000 more personnel.

Reports citing anonymous officials have suggested that a figure somewhat below that mark is likely to be announced by President Obama on Tuesday.

Public commitment

On Saturday, Mr Brown told the BBC that Mr Karzai would be set targets by the international community for training 50,000 Afghan forces and tackling corruption.

He will be expected to commit to them at an international conference in London on 28 January, the PM added.

"What we need is a political push to match the military push we're now agreeing to," Mr Brown said.

A final announcement on whether all three of the government's conditions have been met - and therefore whether the extra troops will be sent - is expected from the prime minister later this week.
 
QUOTE:
"The UK's armed forces have the vehicles and equipment needed to commit 500 more personnel to Afghanistan, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth has said."

What about the other 9000 already out there :x :x :x ????????????????
 
fatsplasher said:
QUOTE:
"The UK's armed forces have the vehicles and equipment needed to commit 500 more personnel to Afghanistan, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth has said."

What about the other 9000 already out there :x :x :x ????????????????

The deal was to ensure adequate kit for those going - not those there. Be reasonable.
 
From the Beeb analysis:
Following constant negative headlines about shortages of equipment and helicopters in Helmand over recent months, the government is keen to show the 500 extra troops will have what they need before they are deployed.

... it seems that it is the 500 extra will have what they require, presumably the thousands already in Afghanistan will have to play catchup :?

edited to add: dammit - beaten to it by fatsplasher
 
spike7451 said:
They have undergone a £42.5m upgrade programme since returning from operations in Iraq to prepare them for the different conditions in Afghanistan - in particular high altitudes and very wide ranges of temperatures.

Err, if my memory serves, that's around £7m per upgraded Merlin sent to Afghanistan.

Again, if my memory serves, you can buy a brand new Blackhawk for £8m.

What on earth have they been upgrading that costs that much?
 
fatsplasher said:
QUOTE:
"The UK's armed forces have the vehicles and equipment needed to commit 500 more personnel to Afghanistan, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth has said."

What about the other 9000 already out there :x :x :x ????????????????
Well he has made a public statement, so if tings start to go TU due to lack of kit then we point at him and say, "Yes Bob, but YOU said......."
 
If 'Elicopters Ainsworthless say we have enough kit, it must be true…

After all, Ainsworthless would never tell porkies now, would he?*

* Except on his expenses claims which were the maximum possible.


MP Bob Ainsworth makes joint highest MPs expenses claim
May 16 2009 by Les Reid, Coventry Telegraph

COVENTRY MP and armed forces minister Bob Ainsworth made the joint highest claim of all 646 MPs for his “second home” in 2007/08.

The latest available figures show he is ranked joint first for his claim that year under the controversial Additional Costs Allowance for a “second home”.

However, his overall expenses claim that year of £134,515, including staffing and office costs – on top of his salary of about £100,000 – was relatively low, as in other years.

Asked about his second home claims, Mr Ainsworth said he was now hoping to enable the Coventry Telegraph to see his expenses files “as soon as possible” to enable a full explanation.

Ahead of that, he told us he did not want to discuss the details, including whether or not his “second homes” claim was for his family home in Coventry or his flat in London.

The rules state MPs should designate their “main home” as the one where they spend the most nights, although MPs including Home Secretary Jacqui Smith have been criticised for claiming the second homes allowance for their family home in their constituency.

Mr Ainsworth pointed out, correctly, that his claim for a near maximum £23,083 in 2007/08 for the Additional Costs Allowance (ACA) was far higher than other years. His ACA claims for the previous four years were in the lowest half of all MPs, although his claim in 2002/03 was also the joint highest.

The Labour MP for Coventry North East told the Coventry Telegraph: “It’s true I claimed the maximum of ACA for 2007/08.

"I am not trying to escape that. It was higher than normal for reasons that will be apparent as soon as I am in a position to talk through the claims with you.

“I’m getting conflicting advice. The Parliamentary Labour Party is saying we should get this into the public domain as soon as possible. The advice from the House is we should be careful if we do because we will have liabilities under data protection.”

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/ne...nt-highest-mps-expenses-claim-92746-23636435/
 
spike7451 said:
Confirming the military had enough equipment, Mr Ainsworth said "a lot of work" had been done to make sure the conditions set by the prime minister had been met.

Why am I left with the feeling that the 'work' has been on semantics and statistics rather than actual delivery.
Cynical, moi? :roll:
 
Ancient_Mariner said:
spike7451 said:
They have undergone a £42.5m upgrade programme since returning from operations in Iraq to prepare them for the different conditions in Afghanistan - in particular high altitudes and very wide ranges of temperatures.

Err, if my memory serves, that's around £7m per upgraded Merlin sent to Afghanistan.

Again, if my memory serves, you can buy a brand new Blackhawk for £8m.

What on earth have they been upgrading that costs that much?

I'm going to assume BAE were doing the upgrades?
 
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