Afghanistan

Debate between Tom Tugendhat and Adam Afriyie

Wednesday 18th August 2021 Commons Chamber

[Adam Afriyie (Windsor) (Con)]

I wonder whether my hon. Friend could say a bit more about that second image.

[Tom Tugendhat]

I am very grateful to my hon. Friend, who was watching the clock more than me.

The second image is one that the forever war that has just reignited could lead to. It is the image of a man whose name I never knew, carrying a child who had died hours earlier into our firebase and begging for help. There was nothing we could do. It was over. That is what defeat looks like; it is when you no longer have the choice of how to help. This does not need to be defeat, but at the moment it damn well feels like it. [Applause.]