Afghanistan

Troops may soon be 'not fit for purpose'

THE massive expenditure incurred fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan could sound the death knell for the British armed forces leaving troops "not fit for purpose", a report warns today.

Senior armed services commanders "obsessed" with both conflicts stand accused of losing touch with ordinary servicemen and women putting their lives at risk in war zones. In a hard-hitting report, the UK think-tank Demos says stretched military budgets remain tied up in "big ticket" high-profile hardware, while the "software" - the men and women making up the armed forces - are being overlooked in terms of training, conditions, pay and welfare. The report also claims the Military Covenant - the contract between the nation and service personnel and their families - has been "damaged almost beyond repair".

At this rate, in 3 years time we won't have any combat ready troops, and many will simply refuse to go.

As we (and the Canadians) are the only ones doing the fighting there, we have to provide all the troops, our other NATO allies are not helping us.