THE grim news about the deaths of eight British soldiers in a single day in Afghanistan is a terrible tragedy for the families and friends who have lost a loved one.

We are told that part of the mission in Afghanistan is to bring governance and facilitate an election in August for a president and 34 representatives of regional councils.

The main objective is to destroy the Taliban and its alleged ability to bring terrorism to this country.

Many argue, with justification, that the Government has failed in its support of our forces in terms of equipment and resources. But it is failing in another way – by not communicating the aims of this war with the British public.

Our image of the war is of death and ultimately the sad sight of coffins being conveyed through the High Street of Wootton Bassett. We are not being shown the impact being made against the terrorist export capability of the Taliban.

Neither are we showing successes amongst the Afghan people in rebuilding their shattered country and not least of all how the West will permanently eradicate the Taliban and maintain a democratic Afghan state.

Ian Sadler, Darlington A NUMBER of people who follow my writing on Afghanistan asked me what I was going to say about the eight soldiers killed in 24 hours.

For once I was lost for words.

It was a sad day for the families whose lives were devastated.

Since my last letter (HAS, July7 ), the reporting of Afghanistan has intensified.

If the politicians cannot sort this out, it is up to us all to take action – drastic action, not marches, but an all out strike until the Government, which you put into power, brings our troops out.

Is this viable?

JM Gowland, Heighington