[A-List] UK military: fiscal crisis

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

Cost of Afghan operation soars

Richard Norton-Taylor
Friday December 20, 2002
The Guardian

The cost of British military operations in Afghanistan is already way above
the original estimate, raising questions about the bill for a much larger
venture in Iraq.

So far £618m is estimated to have been spent on deploying British forces in
Kabul, the Afghan capital, where they played a leading role in the
international security assistance force, sending the SAS and Royal Marine
commandos on combat operations, and maintaining RAF transport and spying
flights.

The figures cover the period from September last year to March next year.
They include the cost of operations in this financial year, which were
originally estimated at £134m but have already soared to £334m.

However, the figures do not include humanitarian and reconstruction aid
which has been committed to Afghanistan. Britain has agreed to provide £200m
over the next five years to help rebuild the country.

The figures were obtained yesterday from the Ministry of Defence by Paul
Keetch, the Liberal Democrat defence spokesman.

"These figures are surprising. They show that the cost of war can never be
accurately estimated," he said.

"Military action costs money and the consequences of military action cost
money," Mr Keetch added.

"At a time when the MoD is preparing for further possible deployments, these
figures serve as a timely reminder of the huge commitment that any action in
Iraq would entail."

The Treasury has so far earmarked £1bn from a contingency fund for military
operations in Iraq.

Spending decisions are made by ministers, including the recent move to
modify Challenger 2 tanks for desert conditions which is expected to cost
£90m.

The expense of any peacekeeping and stabilisation efforts in a post-Saddam
Iraq would have to be added to the cost of the war itself.