Richard Benyon MP
scrutinises Britain's
involvment in Afghanistan
Richard Benyon, Member of Parliament for Newbury, has today spoken in Parliament, assessing the lessons that should be learnt following British involvement in Afghanistan between the years of 2001-2014.
Richard, a former soldier and a member of the influential Defence Select Committee spoke of a lack of clear campaign objectives, poor political scrutiny and the effect of additional security challenges in the wider region.
He additionally spoke of his former platoon, and the role they played throughout this conflict, signalling out Sergeant Moncho, who has since been awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross.
Following his speech Richard said: “This debate is so important. With the delay in the publication of the Chilcot Report into British involvement in Iraq, the media and public’s attention in respect of Afghanistan is already waning. Let us not forget, this was a conflict that spanned longer than both the First and Second World Wars combined.”
Richard concluded his speech by stating that ‘common sense’ would have suggested that better governance, some development objectives and sustainable security were always highly unlikely in Southern Afghanistan and were never going to be achieved within a three year time-scale.
Notes to editors:
A copy of Richard’s speech is available by clicking here.