Afghani war, Who Said What?

Britain's Afghan brigades

The 'pull out now' brigade

Robin Beste Stop the War Coalition

"There is no possibility of stability or security in Afghanistan while a single foreign soldier remains in the country."

Paul Flynn Labour MP

"We created the insurgency by our presence in 2006. Ministers sleepwalked into Helmand and changed what was a manageable situation into one that is now unwinnable."

Correlli Barnett Military historian

"Without such a brave decision [to pull out], British servicemen and women will go on pointlessly dying, while a more and more disillusioned nation simply wants our troops home."

Boris Gromov Ex-commander of the 40th army in Afghanistan

"The international forces must leave Afghanistan alone militarily, and switch to [solving its] economic problems. This would benefit all."

The 'we have to commit - or withdraw' brigade

Nick Clegg Liberal Democrat leader

"Gordon Brown must stop pretending that this is somehow someone else's conflict. The Government is willing the ends, but not willing the means."

David Cameron Conservative leader

"The Government must explain its strategy in Afghanistan, and how it will ensure success. Above all, it must urgently provide the key equipment, such as helicopters, our troops need."

Colonel Bob Stewart Ex-commander of British forces in Bosnia

"The armed forces were promised all the means necessary to achieve operational effectiveness – equipment, transport, and manpower. We should do the job properly."

Dr John Nagl President of the Center for a New American Security

"The British commitment is absolutely essential to holding southern Afghanistan, now that so many UK soldiers have given their lives to clear it."

The 'don't panic' brigade

Gordon Brown Prime Minister

"Our resolve to complete the work that we have started in Afghanistan is undiminished. We must help deliver a free and fair presidential election in Afghanistan."

David Miliband Foreign Secretary

"This is about the future of Britain, as we know the borderlands of Afghanistan and Pakistan have been used to launch terrible attacks, not just on the US but on Britain as well."

Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup Chief of the Defence Staff

"The Taliban ... are losing. But it's going to take time and alas it does involve casualties, but there will be the opportunity for considerably greater governance for the people of Helmand."

Dr David Kilcullen Counter-insurgency adviser to US

"I feel a greater degree of confidence in Afghanistan today than in the past six months. We are finally starting to take the fight to the enemy in the south and east."

The military brigade

General Stanley McChrystal Head, US and Nato forces in Afghanistan

"We must avoid the trap of winning tactical victories but suffering strategic defeats. The Taliban cannot militarily defeat us, but we can defeat ourselves."

Field Marshall Lord Bramall Former chief of defence staff

"Our best hope at the moment is the new US strategy and extra troops to give it our best shot for the next year or so and hope we can get some sort of stability there."

General Sir Hugh Beach Ex-deputy commander, British land forces

"They ought to be sending the extra 2,000 men the generals asked for, as it's obvious that if we're going to get anywhere, it's troops on the ground that are going to cut the mustard."

Pavel Grachev Soviet general

"I believed as sincerely as US officers do now that we were fighting there to help make our country safer. After the war, as a politician, I could see this war had been pointless."