'Bob Ainsworth Admits Britain Cannot Increase Forces In Afghanistan Amid Equipment Fears', The Telegraph, 1 October 2009

EXCERPT: "Bob Ainsworth, the Defence Secretary, has admitted Britain is unable to commit more military personnel to Afghanistan unless it provides enough kit and equipment. Mr Ainsworth, who will address the Labour party conference today, said Britain could not 'send people ahead of vital equipment that they'll need in order to do the job.' He has already warned that other countries will have to 'step up to the plate' if the United States asks for more NATO forces in Afghanistan as part of a surge to improve security. The Daily Telegraph last week disclosed that anger over the Government's failure to equip the Armed Forces properly led to the leaking of expense claims made by MPs earlier this year. Workers who processed the MPs? claims included serving soldiers, who were moonlighting between tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan to earn extra cash for body armour and other vital equipment."

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See also:
'UK considers Afghan troops boost', BBC News, 1 October 2009
'Armoured car delays could blight Taliban fight for years', Daily Mail, 1 October 2009
'UK wants to see quicker training of Afghan troops', Reuters, 1 October 2009
'Labour pushed Armed Forces too hard admits Ainsworth', The Telegraph, 29 September 2009
'UK Conservatives stand firm on Afghanistan', The Wall Street Journal, 27 September 2009

Related posts:
'UK House of Commons report on Afghanistan and Pakistan', 5 August 2009
'MoD's ?35 billion defence black hole is "lethal"', 24 August 2009
'Helicopter shortage hurting British operations', 16 July 2009
'UK troops lacking essential supplies: Report', 14 May 2009
'Equipment shortages to blame for up to 60 British service deaths', 17 June 2008