YOU AND THE RAF Why we are Where we are…
The MoD issue unclassified statements once a month. These Top Level Messages are written by senior staffs and provide an insight the Government’s, and therefore the RAF’s, priorities. Here we have reduced lines on operations relevant to the RAF only.
British troops formally handed the lead responsibility for security in Lashkar Gah to Afghan Forces on 20 Jul 11.
Supporting Lines: • Following a visit to Afghanistan in July, the Prime Minister announced that the UK would withdraw 500 troops by the end of 2012, reducing the UK’s enduring force level to 9,000.
• It is vital to Britain’s security that Al Qaeda is denied the ability to operate freely from within Pakistan or be allowed to return to Afghanistan. Pakistan is now robustly tackling the terrorist threat within its own borders.
• The UK is part of a UN mandated NATO- led international mission in Afghanistan supported actively by 60 countries, of which 48 are providing troops. Several Islamic countries are part of the mission.
LIBYA
British Forces are protecting Libya’s civilian population as part of NATO’s Operation Unified Protector. Colonel Gaddafi rejected the UN’s call to stop violence against his own people and to give them the right to determine their own future. The UK and its coalition partners are enforcing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, which authorises all necessary measures to protect civilians, including carefully targeted operations against Libyan military forces. This operation has the clear backing of Parliament.
Coalition forces are continuing to target the military hardware and associated infrastructure that Gaddafi is using against his own people.
Supporting lines: • Coalition actions have saved thousands of lives in Libya and have prevented Gaddafi from regaining power by force.
• Coalition forces will maintain the pressure on the Gaddafi regime until the goals mandated by the UN and agreed by NATO and its partners are all achieved: Gaddafi ceases attacking his own people, his forces return to their bases, there is full and unhindered access for humanitarian organisations.
• Over 2,000 UK personnel are deployed in the operation.
40 Envoy Autumn 2011
• HMS Ocean is providing a highly mobile base for Apache attack helicopters.
• Royal Fleet Auxiliary shipping has provided afloat logistic support.
• A RN frigate/destroyer has been devoted to embargo and surveillance duties.
• HMS Bangor continues to provide a mine- hunting capability.
• RAF Tornado and Typhoon aircraft based at Gioia del Colle continue to launch operations and have been at the forefront of coalition strike operations.
• Brimstone precision guided missile offers NATO a munition with outstanding accuracy.
• So far RN, Army Air Corps and RAF operations have damaged or destroyed 730 targets.
• VC10 and Tristar air-to-air refuelling aircraft and E3D Sentry and Sentinel surveillance aircraft continue to support the operation.
AFGHANISTAN
British forces are in Afghanistan to prevent Afghan territory from again being used by terrorist organisations as a base from which to plan attacks on the UK and its allies. The presence of NATO forces is preventing Al Qaeda or the Taliban regime from returning while Afghanistan’s security forces are trained to take over the tasks for themselves. We do not seek a perfect Afghanistan, but a stable Afghanistan, able to maintain its own security.
• ISAF strategy, endorsed by NATO, involves protecting the civilian population from the insurgents, supporting more effective governance at every level, and building up the Afghan National Security Forces . The ISAF coalition wants to transfer security responsibility to Afghan control as soon as they are ready.
• The Prime Minister, during his visit to Afghanistan in Dec 10, set out the priorities for 2011: maintaining the momentum created through the military surge; beginning the process of transition to Afghan forces leading security operations and accelerating the Afghan-led political process.
• UK troops working alongside US, Danish, Estonian and Afghan forces continue to make progress by driving out the Taliban and extending the authority and influence of the Afghan Government in Central Helmand. But we must be realistic: Helmand’s security situation remains complex and there will be more tough fighting ahead as we consolidate gains.
• The Prime Minister is clear that there will not be British troops in a combat role in Afghanistan by 2015. There could be some troops in a wider diplomatic relationship in the longer term. The bottom line is: we don’t want to be fighting in Afghanistan a day longer than necessary, and we believe that we have the right strategy to achieve this.
www.raf-ff.org.uk
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