Soldiers in Afghanistan lack drinking water

http://www.bnp.org.uk/news_detail.php?newsId=1675

22nd August 2007

News article filed by BNP defence correspondent


Soldiers in Afghanistan, who regularly complain that they suffer from a shortage of drinking water, have been dealt a blow by the Foreign Office which has built a swimming pool for British diplomats and Afghan staff in Kabul.

The 18 metre (19 yrds) long pool will take 50,000 gallons of water to fill - an amount which would supply 750,000 bottles of water to thirsty troops in Helmand Province.

The Foreign Office said that the pool was for the use of staff who could spend up to two years in Kabul.

The pool was condemned by military experts, who said that it reflected the value the Government placed upon the armed forces in comparison to the diplomatic service. There are over 7000 British troops in Afghanistan, and they regularly complain of a shortage of water. Seventy have been killed since fighting began in 2001.

Shadow Defence Secretary, Liam Fox, stated that “the brave men and women of our armed forces who are putting life and limb on the line in Afghanistan will no doubt question the priorities of the Foreign Office.” Troops were facing shortages of equipment as well as water.

The Foreign Office said that, as there was no other pool for staff to use for relaxation, they had built one instead.
The pool cost tens of thousands of pounds to build - money which should have been spent on ensuring our troops had the best possible equipment, and a plentiful water supply, if it was not to be spent on withdrawing them altogether.

No wonder ABEX, the recently re-launched patriotic organisation for ex-service personnel is receiving a bumper crop of new enquiries.
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"May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't." -General George S. Patton

Psalm 82-8: Arise, O God, judge the earth, for You inherit all the nations.