Soldiers 'demoralised' when suspects go free
A SENIOR Army officer commanding soldiers from Plymouth says having to release suspected Afghan insurgents without charge is harming troops' morale.
Lieutenant Colonel James de la Billière, 39, is preparing his men of 1 Rifles for a tour of Afghanistan next April.
Speaking to The Herald during a large-scale training exercise on Salisbury Plain, he said it was demoralising to have to set free captured individuals without charge.
He also said half the men in his 600-strong battalion had not been to Afghanistan before.
"It's important that we must detain people and then send them through a very good judicial system," said Lt Col de la Billière. "There is an aspiration for this system.
"It's very demoralising catching them and sending them back into the wilds."
However, Lt Col de la Billière said there were signs of progress in Afghanistan.
"Personally, I'm expecting change, and there are a number of reasons for that," he said. "We're getting our troop densities right in Helmand, which makes a significant difference, and our equipment is now materialising on the ground in terms of helicopters and other bits."
He added: "I think the Afghan National Army has moved on in terms of numbers.
"The Nato objective was to produce an Afghan National Army of 130,000 by October 2011. That's been brought forward to October 2010 and they're now getting to that figure. The vulnerable area is the Afghan National Police, and it's something we are looking at.
"They need firmer numbers. No one wants to see soldiers on the streets. The Afghan people would rather see police."
Hundreds of 1 Rifles soldiers are spending three weeks on Salisbury Plain honing their skills in a variety of exercises.
These include compound clearance drills, urban operations, simulated patrols on foot and in vehicles and overall counter-insurgency exercises.
Lt Col de la Billière said his men had worked hard during the exercise.
"There's a lot of stuff they're having to take on very quickly," he said. "It's a big ask but they're stepping up to the plate.
"I'm in awe of these recruits whose families know exactly what they're letting them in for.
"It shows a sense of moral purpose."
1 Rifles, formerly the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, is due to deploy to Afghanistan next April alongside Stonehouse-based 3 Commando Brigade.
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by bootie, plymouth
Thursday, May 27 2010, 8:20PM
“guys how many have you been to Afghanistan? i would say probably none of you. I have been there twice. one incident i can think of is when about 7 people we're caught in a compound full of bomb making equipment they were arrested and taken back to a british camp. There hands and clothing showed up explosive residue but after 2 days all but one were set free. to crack on building them bombs.”
by Dan, Reality
Thursday, May 27 2010, 1:11PM
“Good to see the Herald use a photograph of a US soldier to illustrate a story about the Brit Army.”
by Dave, Devonport
Thursday, May 27 2010, 1:16AM
“Shoot suspects? Isn't that the kind of thing our troops are over there to stop?”
by Matt, Not Plymouth
Wednesday, May 26 2010, 10:46PM
“Nice to see such a classy response, Plymouth lad! No answers to my points, just insults and a threat. Learn to read, Matt with 2 't's, learn to spell 'bullEt', learn to count (I think you've put an asterisk too many in your first swear word unless you meant flipping.) I don't let other people fight for me because I don't see any reason for British troops to be fighting in Afghanistan; in any case, if you're having a go at me for not being in the forces, you are condemning about 99.5% of the British population. Nice work!”
by Plymouth lad, away from home
Wednesday, May 26 2010, 8:09PM
“@ mat, not plymouth, what are you, one of those pot smoking f****ing hippies who let everyone else fight for them? What the F**K have you done then to stop people being murdered by the taliban? Not a thing , i bet!! Maybe someone should put a bullit in your head and do us all a favour.”
by Karen, Plymouth
Wednesday, May 26 2010, 7:59PM
“It must be the same for the police. They go out and grab someone and because there is no evidence they have to let them go. How unfair!! better that a few people get killed or punished for nothing than our policemen or soldiers get depressed. After all it doesn't work like that in their computer games.”
by Matt, Not Plymouth
Wednesday, May 26 2010, 5:50PM
“Oh and Plymouth lad, if you haven't heard that the Taliban have been taking prisoners for years, then you are living on another planet. Good God, to think that you were in the army; the thin line of protection was wafer thin in your part!”
by Matt, Not Plymouth
Wednesday, May 26 2010, 5:46PM
“I completely agree, M; the difference between terrorism and civilisation is that civilised people value life. Ian and Plymouth lad clearly have very little respect for life, so they would probably be quite at home in the Taliban!”
by M, Plymouth
Wednesday, May 26 2010, 5:40PM
“Yeah we could shoot everyone we suspect of being a terrorist. But then we wouldn't be any better than them! If you want to live in a country that kills people indiscriminately without shame or reason then go join the insurgency you profess to hate but share so many views with!”
by Plymouth lad, away from home
Wednesday, May 26 2010, 5:34PM
“It's a WAR against terror, or so it's called. So why shouldn't the terrorists be shot? I was told as i did my service in the army, that every bullit is a life. How many lives is a terrorist worth then? If these people want to plant bombs and ambush our troops as in all WARS, then they must expect to die when cought. Or do you believe that the Taliban take prisoners?....never heard that they have in this conflict...have you?”