The British Military and Afghanistan

Ambassador forecasts 'marathon' British role in Afghanistan

Britain could be heavily involved in Afghanistan for decades, the UK's new ambassador to the country said today, calling it "a marathon not a sprint".

Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, who took up the post last month after stints as ambassador in Israel and Saudi Arabia, said Britain's recently expanded diplomatic efforts in the country could have begun sooner.

"Maybe we should have raised our game earlier, but now we have," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme from Kabul.

British troops probably really want to go to Afghanistan because its a proper war, with less civilians , a chance for them to fire their weapons, see live action, chance to get a medal heh

unlike Iraq, you know perhaps Britain should withdraw from Iraq and concentrated our forces in Afghanistan. Currently the British army suffers from equipment which is old or wearing out, from helicopters to planes to vehicles.