Former army chief says Britain failing its troops

LONDON, Dec 7 (Reuters) Britain's former top soldier has accused the government of failing to give its troops, many of whom are risking their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, the right resources and support.

General Sir Mike Jackson, speaking late yesterday, also warned against cutting and running from the two conflict zones.

Jackson, who led the army during the March 2003 invasion of Iraq but retired earlier this year, said the Ministry of Defence had difficulty adjusting plans for what it thought was needed before an operation to the reality on the ground.

''There is a mismatch therefore between what we do and the resources with which we are given to do it,'' he said, giving the BBC's annual Dimbleby lecture.

Jackson, who spent almost 45 years in the army, criticised the defence ministry for failing to put its troops ''wholeheartedly in the forefront'' during his time as army chief.

He noted that modest improvements had been made, but said an extra 1,000 pounds a month pledged by the government to soldiers on operation was ''hardly an impressive figure''.

''And some accommodation is still, frankly, shaming and hemmed around by petty regulation,'' he added.

Soldiers have a contract with their country, which involves the need to take risks, and possibly die, in return for a wage.

''It is our soldiers who pay the cost in blood; the nation must therefore pay the cost in treasure,'' Jackson said.

As for Britain's operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said: ''What we cannot do is cut and run from these strategic campaigns before it is right to do so.'' He advised against setting a specific timetable for pulling out of Iraq, noting that a report by the Iraq Study Group, published on Wednesday, said US combat troops not needed for force protection could be out by the first quarter of 2008.

''I understand the attraction of putting a date to actions -- it concentrates the mind -- but a date must remain subordinate to achieving the right conditions.'' The Ministry of Defence said in a statement Jackson was entitled to give his opinion on ''these important issues''.

''We are always striving to make things better for our forces and we are always open to informed criticism,'' it said.

Reuters PB DS1202