World

UK's Cameron says troops will leave once Afghans ready

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-06-12 12:38

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron speaks to British forces at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province, Afghanistan June 11, 2010. [Agencies]

 

HARD-HEADED APPROACH

The costs of the Afghan mission are straining Britain's defence budget at a time when the new government has to find ways to cut a gaping budget deficit.

Arriving on Thursday, Cameron spent the night at Camp Bastion located in the southern province of Helmand, the first British prime minister to do so. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown overnighted at Kandahar earlier this year.

Cameron read out to the troops a message from England soccer coach Fabio Capello, about to kick off England's campaign in the World Cup in South Africa, who told the soldiers: "We want you to know that we believe that you are the real heroes."

Cameron had to abandon a trip to a forward patrol base on Thursday evening after the military intercepted information suggesting insurgents could be planning to attack his helicopter. He got up early on Friday for a 10-minute run inside the base and breakfast with the troops. He left Afghanistan in the afternoon.

The previous Labour government faced a torrent of criticism from Cameron, then in opposition, other politicians and former senior military figures that it had put British soldiers' lives at risk by failing to give them the proper equipment while many lived in poor quality housing when in Britain.

Fulfilling a campaign promise, Cameron was cheered by the troops when he told them their operational allowance when in Afghanistan would be doubled to around 29 pounds a day ($42), at an annual cost of 58 million pounds. It will be financed from efficiency savings within the defence budget.

Pledging to re-write the "military covenant", under which British governments back the country's military, he said he would also act to improve the armed forces' health care, education and housing back in Britain.