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EUROPE
25 Oct 09. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK. A Corporal from 3rd Bn The Royal Regiment of Scotland died at Selly Oak Hospital on 25 Oct 09, from injuries received in an explosion in Kandahar Province on 15 Sep 09. UK deaths since the start of Operations in October 2001 thus rose to 223, of whom 192 were killed as a result of hostile action. (MoD, 26 Oct 09.)
A new British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) station opened at Camp Bastion on 26 Oct 09. (News Item.)
A range of equipment is in service to counter the threat from improvised explosive devices (IED) and mines….(Ministerial Answer (MA) 27 Oct 09.)
As a result of Operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, there were 27 limb amputees during 2008, of which six were “significant” multiple amputees. For the first nine months of 2009, the figures were 32 and 13. (MA, 27 Oct 09.)
In the four year period to 14 Jul 08, 62 casualties from OP HERRICK sustained eye injuries of whom 15 lost sight in one or both eyes. (MA, 27 Oct 09.)
There are eight Tornado GR4 and four C-130 Hercules based in Afghanistan. (MA, 27 Oct 09.)
Together with NATO allies and ISAF partners, the MoD is now in the process of assessing the implications of General McChrystal’s report [on NATO Operations]. (MA, 28 Oct 09.)
The Air Battlespace Training Centre at RAF Marham has reopened following a major refurbishment. Soldiers and airmen training for Afghanistan have already made use of the facilities at the Centre. (MoD, 30 Oct 09.)
Comment: 42 Countries continue to contribute to ISAF, although adjustments have been made to the numbers from the US and 22 other nations. NATO has now claimed that Armenia is an ISAF contributor, but with no troops (!).
(Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 10/41, 02 Nov 09)
06 Nov 09. Brown warns Karzai on corruption. Prime Minister Gordon Brown: “We cannot, must not and will not walk away” Gordon Brown has told Afghan President Hamid Karzai he will not put UK troops “in harm’s way for a government that does not stand up against corruption”. The UK prime minister said the Afghan government had become a “by-word for corruption” and President Karzai had to take action against it. In a speech, Mr Brown said the UK “cannot, must not and will not walk away” from its mission in Afghanistan. But he said continued coalition support would depend on the delivery of reform. He called for the creation of anti-corruption commission to investigate abuses, warning President Karzai that “cronies and warlords should have no place in the future of Afghanistan”. Mr Brown said he hoped Mr Karzai would use his inauguration speech on 19 November to set out detailed plans to fight corruption, build up his security forces and improve the governance of his country. And he set out a series of tests he said President Karzai’s government had to pass to ensure continued international backing. “International support depends on the scale of his ambition and the degree of his achievement in five key areas: security, governance, reconciliation, economic development and engagement with its neighbours,” said Mr Brown. (Source: BBC)
29 Oct 09. Armed Forces Act 2006: I