The Hindu : U.K. commander to lose job

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 21, 2002

International

International

U.K. commander to lose job

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON MAY 20. The controversial head of the British Royal Marines operations in Afghanistan, Brigadier Roger Lane, is to be replaced following widespread criticism of his handling of the mission which, critics said, had descended into a `farce' in recent weeks.

Even as the Defence Secretary, Geoffrey Hoon, defended Brig. Lane and the Ministry of Defence claimed that the decision to replace him had nothing to do with the current operations, reports said he was paying for a series of mistakes that had embarrassed and `angered' the top brass in London. The much-publicised mission, portrayed as one of the most difficult missions to hunt down al-Qaeda men, is widely seen as a failure with Brig Lane facing accusations of attempting to "cover up'' the truth. One report quoted `senior' Defence Ministry officials as saying that relations between British and U.S. commanders in Afghanistan had become "increasingly strained'' over his tactics, and the head of the U.S. military, Gen Tommy Franks, was reported to be furious when he was not informed about a major British mission, Operation Condor. He got to know about it from a CNN news bulletin.

Among other things, Brig. Lane has been accused of `over hyping' the stray successes of his mission; making claims which had to be contradicted both in London and Washington; causing a breakdown of communication with U.S. officers; and contributing to a decline in the morale of his troops.

Defence observers said his replacement, for which no date has been set, would fuel speculation that he had "fallen out'' with the Ministry of Defence.Mr. Hoon, however, said he had "every confidence'' in Brig. Lane. The move was attacked by the shadow defence secretary, Bernard Jenkin, who said Brig Lane was being "hung out to dry'' to cover up the Government's own mistakes.

He suggested that it was the Government, rather than Brig Lane, who hyped up the mission's achievements. The Ministry of Defence said the "changeover of commanders has got nothing to do with the current operation.''

U.S. soldier killed

AFP reports from Bagram Air Base (Afghanistan):

A U.S. special forces soldier killed in eastern Afghanistan was shot dead in an ambush by suspected al-Qaeda and Taliban forces, a military spokesman said today.

He refused to identify the soldier, who is understood to be the first special forces member to be killed in combat here since the massive Operation Anaconda, which ended in March.

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