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Howard's Way.... a weekly column from the Rt. Hon. Michael Howard QC. MP. 

27 November 2008

A few short weeks ago we were commemorating the fallen of two World Wars and the many conflicts since. Now we mourn the loss of two members of our local community – the two Gurkha soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Gurkha Rifles.

Colour Sergeant Krishnabahadur Dura and Rifleman Yubraj Rai were stationed at Shorncliffe but lost their lives in Afghanistan. Their loss is a terrible blow to their families but also to all the rest of is.

The Gurkhas have become an integral part of our local community. We value highly the special contribution they make to that community. So the loss of two of their number diminishes us all and leaves a gap that will be very hard to fill.

Our sympathy goes to their families. And we recognise the enormity of the debt we owe them. The war in Afghanistan seems a long way away and voices are often heard questioning whether our brave soldiers should still be there.

But the alternative is to allow the Taliban to regain control of the country and to permit Al Qaeda to use it once again as a base for attacking the West as was the case at the time of 9/11.

I do think that too much of the burden is being carried by two few countries. Apart from the British contingent, the United States, Canada and the Netherlands are all playing their part. But all too many other countries are not. The threat is a threat to them as well. Yet even those who have forces in Afghanistan all too often place restrictive conditions on the circumstances in which they are allowed to fight. Some are not allowed to fight at all.

I think the British Prime Minister should be visiting the capitals of other NATO countries to appeal to them to step up their help. Regrettably, he has not done so. There some signs that President-elect Obama will take up this challenge.

I hope he will and I hope he gets a positive response. Our futures are at stake.