So far, 157 British troops have died in Afghanistan and many more have been injured. These are significant and worrying losses. How long will British public opinion accept these losses when it is not clear whether the war in Afghanistan can be won?
Britain's armed forces have had to provide contingents for Iraq. These are now being withdrawn, but Britain's armed services forces are overstretched. There have been many complaints about inadequate equipment and medical facilities for the wounded and about the apparent indifference of the public toward their problems.
The booing of returning soldiers by Muslim youths aroused sympathy for the soldiers, and appeals for better facilities for the wounded were met with a reasonable response. The government has been criticized for failing the armed forces, and there is only limited public understanding of the dangers facing British troops in Afghanistan.