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In an exclusive article for The Sunday Telegraph, John Hutton, the former defence secretary, joined calls for extra troops and helicopters to be provided for British forces in Helmand.
Mr Huttons comments his first on the subject since leaving the Government last month were highly significant as they followed similar public demands by senior military figures in the face of an insistence by Gordon Brown that British troops were properly equipped.
Meanwhile, Lord Mandelson was forced to put a stop to a smear campaign aimed at discrediting Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, Chief of the General Staff, which was started inside the Government.
Ministers and Labour MPs had attempted to paint Sir Richard, who publicly called for more troops and helicopters for Helmand, as a Tory sympathiser who was playing politics.
The intervention of the influential Business Secretary was seen as a humiliation for the under-fire Defence Secretary, Bob Ainsworth, who was forced to order his ministerial team to present a united front with the military.
It came as The Sunday Telegraph learned that the Government turned down the chance to buy 12 cut-price helicopters, which were close to being ready for operational use in Afghanistan, preferring to spend more time and money upgrading its own machines.
Ministers rejected an offer of a dozen SA 330 Puma transport helicopters from the United Arab Emirates at a cost of about £6 million each. There are about 25 British military helicopters in Afghanistan, out of more than 600 operated by the Armed Forces worldwide.
Labour at war over Afghanistan - Telegraph
This will be an interesting one to watch. It looks from here as if the implosion is continuing, the stupid bastards have even forgotten how to count.
Probably! Shambolic lot they are, time to flush them out from government and they need to flush out the loonies from their own Party while they're at it, hypocrites and time-servers need to get the boot.
Another British soldier killed in Afghanistan as troops are forced to borrow helicopters from Americans, Dutch and Aussies
Lt Col Nick Richardson, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: 'It is with extreme sadness that I must report the death of a brave soldier.
'He laid down his life for his country and the good people of Afghanistan. We grieve for his loss and join with his family and friends to mourn his passing.'
The MoD said next of kin had been informed.
Lt Col Richardson revealed that American, Dutch and even Australian helicopters are being used to launch British combat operations in Afghanistan.
UK forces have used coalition aircraft to 'seize areas of ground' from the Taliban, he said.
The comments from Gordon Brown's favourite military spokesman came as John Hutton, who quit the Cabinet last month, added his voice to the calls for additional help. The former Defence Secretary said failure in Afghanistan was 'simply not an option'.
The resources row has dogged Labour for the past week, with a string of generals demanding a 'shopping list' of troops and kit to stem the rising death toll.
Yesterday it emerged that one major operation last month saw British forces launch an aerial assault on a guerilla stronghold by jumping from American as well as British Chinook aircraft.
Lord Mandelson said yesterday that the Government was in 'intensive discussions' with the Americans about whether to send further reinforcements later this year.
The First Secretary of State said no decision would be made until the U.S. Commander, General Stanley McCrystal, decides on numbers in October.
But Mr Hutton called for the Government to review troop numbers now.
He said British soldiers on the frontline need 'more logistical support' and that battlefield commanders are 'unequivocal' on the need for more manpower, helicopters and protection from roadside bombs.
Backing the offensive to clear areas of Helmand province of insurgents, he said: 'It is going to take more resources to properly execute.'
He added: 'The mood on the ground is unequivocal - more resources in each of these areas would be helpful. This review of British troop levels cannot wait until October, as has been suggested, before it is addressed.'
Another British soldier killed in Afghanistan as troops are forced to borrow helicopters from Americans, Dutch and Aussies | Mail Online
Probably! Shambolic lot they are, time to flush them out from government and they need to flush out the loonies from their own Party while they're at it, hypocrites and time-servers need to get the boot.
You referring to all the politicians over them or here?
Minister Lord Malloch-Brown admits to Afghanistan helicopter shortage
Lord Malloch-Brown has become the first senior government minister to admit that British troops need more helicopters in Afghanistan.
Lord Malloch-Browns intervention in the row over the lack of helicopters for British troops is particularly damaging for the Prime Minister because his role as Foreign Office minister includes responsibility for Afghanistan.
Mr Brown has been under considerable pressure from the military over equipment levels in Afghanistan. On Tuesday it was disclosed that a bomb disposal expert had become the latest victim of the conflict with the Taliban, the 18th British death since the start of the month. The UK death toll is 186 since the start of operations in the country in 2001.
Last week Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the Army, criticised Mr Brown and ministers for failing to supply enough men, vehicles and equipment. Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, the Chief of Defence Staff, also insisted that more helicopters would save lives.
However, Mr Brown has repeatedly said troops had enough resources to do the job despite the recent increase in British deaths.
Lord Malloch-Brown, who as a senior member of the Government attends Cabinet meetings, has now publicly opposed this view and seemed to back the generals in their battle with Number 10.
He said: We definitely dont have enough helicopters. When you have these modern operations and insurgent strikes what you need, above all else, is mobility.
Minister Lord Malloch-Brown admits to Afghanistan helicopter shortage - Telegraph
