Obama: We don't need UK troops for Afghan push

THE Americans do not want Britain to contribute more forces to the new surge against the Taliban in Afghanistan, it was revealed today.

The US strategy due to be announced by President Obama this week appears to have abandoned all pretence at consultation between the allies.

Britain had expected to send between 1,000 and 3,500 more combat soldiers. But Britain and European allies including France have been told their additional forces are not wanted.

It is thought that the gap in technical capability between US forces and their allies is the reason behind the decision. A defence consultant to President Sarkozy confirmed the French government had been told that US commander General David Petraeus required no extra troops.

He said: "The problem is that the Americans are now so advanced in their technology and systems, particularly in communications and information gathering and distribution, that the European forces cannot keep up."

The official confirmed that the Americans often did not have a way of speaking to British and French ground and air forces. "Our forces had to get intelligence from American briefings, and it might be pretty low level, and often we had to drive back to our own headquarters by jeep with the information written down in note form." British commanders have reported radio communication between one base and another breaking down. The same complaints have been heard from commanders returning from Iraq.