THE UNITED SOCIALIST PARTY
A Party that always campaigns for a fair and just society for all in Britain
Operations in Afghanistan: British
Fatalities
It is with very deep regret that the Ministry of Defence has confirmed the
following fatalities suffered during operations in Afghanistan.
As at 8 August 2009, a total of 196 British Forces personnel or MOD civilians have died
while serving in Afghanistan since the start of operations in October 2001.
Of these, 165 were killed as a result of hostile action.
31 are known to have died either as a result of illness, non-combat injuries or accidents,
or have not yet officially been assigned a cause of death pending the outcome of an
investigation. The balance of these figures may change as inquests are concluded.
These are some of the sad facts emerging from the war in Afghanistan up to now 196
British soldiers killed and over 50 with loss of limb(s) or emotional problems.
We all know that this war is illegal but our government still holds out the threat of global
terrorism as being the reason why we are in Afghanistan.
We have been in this theatre of war since 2001-nearly eight years. The Second World
War lasted only 5 years, so why is it taking so long to resolve this conflict?
The answer could be that we are there because Afghanistan will be the starting point for
conflict with Iran.
Whether we accept that we are there or continue the campaign for ‘Stop the War’ we
have to acknowledge that British working class men and women are out there and
getting injured or dying.
We in The United Socialist Party ask ‘WHY ARE WE THERE and WHO BENIFITS?’
come clean and tell the British people the truth.
There is also an issue less published, is that some of our young men and women in this
theatre of war don’t get any mail from home at any time. This may be due to them not
having any family what so ever.
We therefore ask some of you to write to them, just to let them know how ordinary life
continues back home and just to let them know that our working class lads, men and
women are not forgotten.
You can contact them by letter to: B.F.P.O - British Army – Afghanistan, or through the
web sites below.
