Sandhurst in the Sand

The British are going to continue their involvement with the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) past 2014 but primarily in an instructor and advisory role. Much of their efforts will be centered on the Afghan National Army Officer Academy or ANA-OA. This academy will train cadets who will become officers in the ANA. The academy is modeled after the UK military academy called Sandhurst; the Afghan academy has been nicknamed 'Sandhurst in the Sand'. Learn more about Sandhurst in the Sand.

International Donors Find it Hard to Address Corruption in Afghanistan

Despite overwhelming evidence that a large amount of the money sent to Afghanistan for use in development and establishing governance is misused (corruption) international donors still have not instituted financial control measures so that they may "follow the money". The United Kingdom is no exception to putting the blinders on when addressing the actual end point of a great portion of its aid money (that would be Dubai). Read more in "Donors still can't talk about the c-word", International Development Department Blog of the University of Birmingham, March 23, 2012.

British Not Optimistic about Afghan Effort to End Corruption

The British Foreign Officer Minister, Alistair Burt, expressed doubts on the willingness of senior Afghan government officials to do anything about ridding the Afghan government of corruption. Read more in "British official expresses doubts about Afghan efforts to tackle corruption", The Washington Post, March 29, 2012.

UK PM Cameron's View of Afghanistan

On a recent trip to the United States the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom provided his insight on the Afghan War. He believes that there is a desire on the part of NATO to end the conflict in Afghanistan and an acceptance that Afghanistan will not have a "perfect democracy". He believes a suitable goal is an Afghanistan that can provide for its own security, that won't be a haven for terror, and that does not need the involvement of foreign troops. The UK currently has 9,500 troops in Afghanistan. Read a news articles on his comments about Afghanistan in "Cameron Says Afghans Won't Have Perfect Democracy When NATO Goes", Bloomberg Business Week, March 13, 2012 and "Britain wants endgame in Afghanistan, says David Cameron", The Telegraph, March 14, 2012.

British Ambassador Comments on Mistakes in Afghanistan

Sir William Patey, the British ambassador to Afghanistan, will be leaving his post soon. In a recent interview he provided some comments on the mistakes the coalition has made in the past and on future prospects for Afghanistan. Read more in "Our big mistake was to assume we had won, says British ambassador to Afghanistan", The Telegraph, March 10, 2012.

Bomb Disposal Tactics in Afghanistan to Be Changed by British Forces

United Kingdom forces are changing their tactics when it comes to disposal of IEDs in Afghanistan.  Instead of disarming the IEDs and retrieving the components to study the bombs and extract DNA evidence for later prosecution of the IED network the bombs will now be destroyed in place.  The decision whether to disarm or destroy will be left up to the bomb disposal technician on the ground.  The Taliban have increased the number IEDs this past year and recent deaths of highly-skilled bomb disposal experts have caused the UK military to relook how IEDs are treated.  Read more in "Commanders to change bomb disposal tactics", The Telegraph, February 12, 2011.

British IED Disposal Soldiers in Afghanistan

Disposing of IEDs in Afghanistan is a dangerous job and it takes special men to do it.  The British have specialized teams that receive extensive training in this area.  Read about them in "Afghanistan: the Bomb Hunters", The Telegraph, February 2, 2011.

Gurkhas Honored for Tour of Duty in Afghanistan

The Gurkhas were honored for their recent tour of duty in Afghanistan.  See "Prince Charles honours Gurkhas' work in Afghanistan", BBC News, January 28, 2011.

Some British Forces Now Working in Maiwand District of Kandahar Province

The Household Cavalry are now working in Maiwand District of Kandahar Province in Afghanistan.  Read more in "British troops move out of Helmand", The Guardian, January 7, 2011.

Interview of General David Richards - UK Chief of Defence Staff

The United Kingdom Chief of Defence Staff - General David Richards - was recently interviewed by National Public Radio (NPR) about the Afghanistan War.  See "Richards: Time to Turn Afghan War Around is Now", NPR, January 6, 2011.

British Troops to Pursue Taliban During Winter Months

A recent report says that British troops will pursue the Taliban in their traditional winter hideouts.  Read more in "British Troops Will Hunt Taliban's Winter Hideouts, Says Senior Officer", The Guardian, December 21, 2010.

Operation Herrick 12 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan

The commander of the British 4th Mechanized Brigade reflects on his units' tour in Helmand Province, Afghanistan that took place this past year.  His article precedes a memorial service for members of his unit that lost their lives in the Afghan War.  Read more in "Reflections on Afghan Mission", The Press, December 6, 2010.

British Public Voicing Concerns on Afghan War

The British public is becoming increasingly concerned over the United Kingdom's involvement in the Afghan War.  Read more in "British Public Growing Weary of Afghan War", Voice of America, November 23, 2010.