Terror attacks likely says chair of the Commons defence committee
Despite US projections that the Taliban would regain control of Afghanistan within twelve months, the military organisation has now taken the Afghan capital of Kabul. Now, a senior conservative has painted a concerning picture. A terrorist attack “on the scale of 9/11” is highly likely unless immediate action is taken by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Tobias Ellwood, the chair of the Commons defence committee, has dubbed the Western retreat as “completely humiliating” and predicted a “humanitarian disaster” in the future.
PARLIAMENT RECALL:
I called for this recall so we can debate our biggest foreign policy failure in a generation.
Now I learn it will be a
ONE LINE WHIP…Without a vote we will simply confirm that:
UK foreign policy is missing in action. pic.twitter.com/EJ4fNg6Y1A— Tobias Ellwood MP (@Tobias_Ellwood) August 15, 2021
But it doesn’t stop there. Ellwood fears that allowing Afghanistan to collapse will usher in the return of Al-Qaeda, who were responsible for the heinous attack in 2001.
“Don’t forget that we will see further terrorist attacks,” Mr Ellwood.
“I would not be surprised if we see another attack on the scale of 9/11, almost to bookend what happened 20 years ago, as a poke in the face to the Western Alliance to show how fruitless our efforts have been over the last two decades.”
AFGHANISTAN:
Chaotic exodus from Kabul airport.
Apaches used to clear the runway.If this is not Saigon 2.0 I don’t know what is.
Is this how we thought we’d depart Afghanistan?
I repeat my call for a UK inquiry. pic.twitter.com/Bd7bRPRTVy
— Tobias Ellwood MP (@Tobias_Ellwood) August 16, 2021
The PM has insisted UK troops will not return to the country, the Independent reports. Ellwood has also called for the UK to deploy the Royal Navy’s HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier strike group to the region.
“I plead with the prime minister to think again,” said Ellwood.
“We have an ever-shrinking window of opportunity to recognise where this country is going as a failed state.
“We can turn this around but it requires political will and courage. This is our moment to step forward.”
RE-TASK OUR CARRIER
As Kabul falls & with the threat picture changing fast – the Queen Elizabeth should return to the Indian Ocean so our F35’s can help with the evac if required.
Little point in having such hard power if it’s in the wrong place at the wrong time.@HMSQNLZ pic.twitter.com/J2SB95eYkj
— Tobias Ellwood MP (@Tobias_Ellwood) August 15, 2021
He continued: “We could prevent this, otherwise history will judge us very, very harshly in not steeping in when we could do and allowing the state to fail.”
These fears have been reciprocated by numerous high-ranking political officials, including defence secretary Ben Wallace who said: “I am absolutely worried. Failed states are breeding grounds for those type of people – Al-Qaeda will probably come back.”
Related Links:
- At least five dead amid Kabul airport chaos as Taliban takes capital
- Taliban enter outskirts of Kabul in move to retake whole of Afghanistan
- Last remaining British troops to be withdrawn from Afghanistan
