Inept ministers cling on to their posts

IN response to Mrs Earl’s letter (‘We should not help Afghan students’), the Government has done the right thing in promising to honour the commitment made to the 35 Afghan students on the Chevening scholarships scheme, but it will be an empty promise if they are not able to escape the chaos created by the questionable US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

There has been a lot of discussion about the responsibility of the British government in this growing disaster. It is tacitly understood that Britain cannot operate without the military might of the US, but again it has been shown that this government is continually reacting to events rather than pro-actively setting an agenda.

Now it has let down the people of Afghanistan, the army of interpreters and support staff, and especially the girls and women who will be thrown back into an intolerable existence. It has also let down British military personnel, many of whom have suffered life-changing injuries doing their duty.

We are supposed to be ‘Global Britain’. Boris Johnson has been spouting this patent nonsense since the Brexit vote. To be taken ‘by surprise’ at the speed of a Taliban takeover shows a lack of foresight, consultation and planning.

Dominic Raab was on holiday and unable or unwilling to take vital phone calls with Afghan counterparts. He will not resign or be sacked for dereliction of duty.

Not so long ago, ministers were honourable. Peter Carrington resigned from the post of Foreign Secretary, taking full responsibility for the complacency of the

Foreign Office failing to recognise Argentina’s intentions over the Falklands.

But now Johnson’s inept ministers cling on to their posts; they do not seem to be able to recognise their responsibilities or woeful limitations.

Mr Seage (‘Afghanistan must be left to fend for itself’), in referring to contributions to the parliamentary debate as ‘hysteria’, is to disparage the moving contributions, especially the one made by veteran Tom Tugendhat.

I have also appreciated the contributions of Johnny Mercer,

Dan Jarvis and Tobias Ellwood. Rory Stewart’s insight and understanding are sadly missing from government.

I do not know how anyone can be watching the news footage without a feeling of deep sadness and despair for the people who have been abandoned because of a ‘peace’ agreement signed by Trump and the Taliban on February 29, 2020, and ‘honoured’ by Biden as a cynical vote-winner.

Our government knew the schedule. The withdrawal could have been planned for and executed effectively without causing the confusion which is reverberating around the world. This failure could also affect our domestic security for years to come.

Catherine Pickles Buckfastleigh, Devon