Afghanistan Army major death an 'enormous loss'

A British soldier has become the seventh military fatality this week in Afghanistan as the victim of an earlier helicopter crash is named. But the Government denied any "complacency" over providing troops there with the best equipment possible as tributes were paid in the Commons to the dead soldiers who were part of the intense Operation Panther's Claw. Captain Ben Babington-Browne, 27, from 22 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, died on Monday in the crash with two Canadian colleagues. A day later, a soldier, from The Light Dragoons, was killed in an explosion during the operation in Helmand province. In his first speech since his appointment in last month's Cabinet reshuffle, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth warned more lives will be lost, as achieving success in the struggle against the Taliban will require "courage and patience" Foreign secretary William Hague expressed gratitude and admiration for the work done by British forces but questioned whether "everything possible is being done to provide the best possible protection and mobility for our forces there". Commons leader Harriet Harman, standing in for the Prime Minister, who is at the G8 talks in Italy, told Mr Hague: "You're absolutely right. We must do everything possible to ensure the greatest protection for our troops in the field. There is no complacency on that." "Let us be under no illusion. The situation in Afghanistan is serious - and not yet decided. The way forward is hard and dangerous. More lives will be lost and our resolve will be tested," Mr Ainsworth said. "No single or simple solution will work. Success will be achieved incrementally. Step by step and over time, the Afghans themselves will take full responsibility for their own security and their own governance. "This is not going to happen tomorrow, nor in a few short weeks or months. If we are to succeed we will need both the courage and the patience to see it through. There is no defined end date - only an end state." Meanwhile, the funeral of an "exceptionally talented" Welsh guardsman killed last month in Afghanistan has taken place. Major Sean Birchall, 33, died in an explosion in central Helmand Province on June 19. His widow Joanna, the mother of his 18-month-old son Charlie, said: "Sean was a wonderful husband, a doting father and a much loved son and brother who cared deeply for his family and friends. "He was also thrilled to have the opportunity to lead his company in Afghanistan and despite spending such a short time with his guardsmen he was utterly devoted to them." UK troops are currently being reinforced by 4,000 US marines as the Taliban steadfastly cling onto their control of the area. The Government has been criticised for refusing to reinforce the 8,000 strong UK contingent beyond a temporary "surge" for the presidential elections this summer. Senior figures have cast doubt on the effectiveness of the international campaign against the Taliban. Former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown warned last week that the multinational coalition was losing the conflict. Lord Ashdown, who was UN High Representative to Bosnia and was slated to carry out a similar role in Afghanistan, said it was a "scandal" that British troops were dying because of the lack of co-ordination of the international effort. Meanwhile, the mother of a young soldier killed in Afghanistan has urged the public to "get behind" UK troops serving in the country. Jane Ford, mother of 18-year-old Private Ben Ford, who was killed nearly two years ago in an explosion in southern Afghanistan, said that, in her view, it was unpatriotic to question whether the Armed Forces should be in Afghanistan. "I think, really, we would be better off saying to the guys 'You are doing a good job' - let's get behind them."

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ITN | July 8, 2009

Tags:. .UK News. .babington. .complacency. .ainsworth. .reshuffle