AFGHANISTAN STRATEGY

Early day motion 2194, tabled 7 October 2008 by Paul Flynn (Labour). Signed by 29 members.

That this House salutes the courage and professionalism of British forces in Afghanistan; records its sorrow at the 120 deaths on active service; regrets the groundless optimism on the possibility of military victory; welcomes the British Ambassador Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles' warning that a British troops surge would identify the UK even more clearly as an occupying force and multiply the number of targets and the judgment by military chief, Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith that the UK is not going to win this war; notes that seven years of warfare has resulted in a glut of Afghan heroin on British streets at the cheapest price ever and the control by a strengthened Taliban of almost half the territory of Afghanistan and a loss of hearts and minds support following the accidental deaths of thousands of innocent women and children in bombing raids; and calls for a new practical peace strategy that could consolidate gains made, end the bloodshed and establish stable government.

Signatures by party: Labour 20, Liberal Democrat 4, Independent 2, Plaid Cymru 2, Independent Labour 1.