Afghan war 'insane use' of military; Letters.

THE justification for the occupation of Afghanistan was originally to destroy a number of terrorist training camps, which can be dismantled and reassembled like Meccano sets and reestablished in any one of a dozen failed states.

Another aim was to catch Osama Bin Laden, whom the Americans told the world was behind the 9/11 attacks.

Without any serious political re-examination, the mission then massively grew into a sustained and expensive occupation which the military insist will take another decade to clear up.

Only since the spate of deaths after fierce fighting began recently in Helmand, which was conquered in 2001, have opposition politicians begun, to show the slightest concern about any aspects of the mission.

As is their wont, they still accede to what must be the most insane logistical misuse of precious military resources since Vietnam.

Space here prevents any detailed mention of the difficulties of geography and tribal politics and inherent within the employment of conventional forces to counter what is an insurgency.

Each of those on its own would threaten the success of any such venture, in a list which is far from exhaustive.

Bill Haymes, Norfolk Street, Coventry.