The British press is reporting that, "the cabinet has committed nearly 6,000 troops to Afghanistan, most based in Helmand, a hostile, opium poppy growing region in the south of the country. The 3,000-plus strong taskforce to be based there consists of 16 Air Assault Brigade, based in Colchester and comprising 3 Para, backed up by artillery, helicopters and transport aircraft. Other British troops will form the headquarters of the Nato-led security assistance force based in Kabul. Their tasks are peacekeeping, nation-building, and counter-narcotics. They are supposed to be entirely separate from US-led combat counter-terrorist operations against al-Qa'eda and Taliban fighters".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/afghanista...html?gusrc=rss

how many in Iraq? think they need more over there..

and what if they need air support for their operations?

Well, Britain has about 8500 troops in Iraq, with another 3500 "in theatre", according to GlobalSecurity.org, built around 7 Armored Brigade.

With the mission in Afghanistan, which is mainly airborne troops, that will put (trying to avoid double counting, and thinking about rotations and such) about 15 000 British troops on long term deployment in the Middle East.

Outside America, putting (essentially) two full brigades into another region is a capability few other nations in the world could manage. Its the limit of what Britain can do.

You do realize that counter-narcotics operations will completely destroy Afghanistan's already weak economy.

Originally Posted by Kirruth

Well, Britain has about 8500 troops in Iraq, with another 3500 "in theatre", according to GlobalSecurity.org, built around 7 Armored Brigade.

With the mission in Afghanistan, which is mainly airborne troops, that will put (trying to avoid double counting, and thinking about rotations and such) about 15 000 British troops on long term deployment in the Middle East.

Outside America, putting (essentially) two full brigades into another region is a capability few other nations in the world could manage. Its the limit of what Britain can do.

No other nation could probably do it.

Originally Posted by Mohmar Deathstrike

You do realize that counter-narcotics operations will completely destroy Afghanistan's already weak economy.

Well, the exchange of narcotics for weapons (going in through Pakistan) is likely to be how the Taliban elements are equipping their ongoing operations. It was how the Muj equipped themselves against the Russians (shipping out hash and opium to buy Chinese RPGs and Pakistani AKs).

I have a question: How many soldiers does the troop usually have, or some number on average? I don't know what to imagine at all... sorry for OT.