Why we need an Afghan Inquiry

The Iraq war started in March 2003. 6 years later in Apr 2009, UK combat operations ended. The inquiry announced just two months later, took six years to deliver its findings.  The Afghan conflict lasted 13 years, so it is not unreasonable to think an inquiry will last up to 15 years, which means it would be reporting some 30 years after the start of the conflict, AROUND 2030 – when many interested parties will no longer be around. On that basis alone, it is now time to set an inquiry in motion.

A much more comprehensive rationale is on thethe Defence Select Committee website – in their letter to  he Prime Minister

The MOD case not to have one is:

I read case for an inquiry with interest. The Government’s position on an inquiry though remains as set out by the then Armed Forces Minister Mike Penning MP in his 23 September 2016 letter. No decision has been taken yet on whether an independent inquiry on Afghanistan will be held, and that decision will need to be taken in consultation with central Government. One of the primary reasons is that the rationale for any inquiry should be considered once the mission in Afghanistan has concluded. The UK still has around 650 personnel in Afghanistan as part of the wider NATO Resolute Support train-advise-assist mission.

The Rt Hon Mark Lancaster MP
Minister of State for the Armed Forces

This is prevarication in the extreme, suggesting an inquiry might impact a training mission. If that is the case then the MOD needs to call off any investigation in Northern Ireland as servicemen, and veterans live, work and are stationed there. They cannot have it both ways.

So if you want to help the bereaved and injured get to the truth and to help get the reasons for the expansion of the Afghan mission into Helmand Proving in 2006 to a public debate, please sign here: