Decorated Veteran Condemns Trump's 'Insulting' Afghanistan Remarks
A former Army captain decorated for his bravery in Afghanistan has launched a scathing attack on US President Donald Trump, accusing him of "trampling over the memories" of those who lost their lives in the conflict. Doug Beattie, who was awarded the Military Cross for his service, has demanded that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer publicly "hold the president to task" for recent comments perceived as dismissive of allied sacrifices.
Trump's Controversial NATO Comments Spark Fury
The controversy stems from an interview President Trump gave to Fox News, where he reiterated scepticism about NATO support and suggested America's allies in Afghanistan "stayed a little back, a little off the front lines." Mr Beattie, now an Ulster Unionist MLA who served three tours in Afghanistan, described these remarks as not only factually inaccurate but deeply personally insulting to every soldier who fought there.
"People need to understand that it was the US which invoked Article 5 of the NATO charter," Mr Beattie stated, emphasising the collective defence principle. "It was other nations that came to the call and in doing so in Afghanistan, lost thousands of their young men and women killed and injured." He highlighted the UK's specific sacrifice of 457 personnel killed in action and over 2,200 wounded.
A Personal and Collective Insult
Mr Beattie's condemnation is rooted in direct, harrowing experience. He recounted serving on the front line for nearly every day of his three tours, fighting alongside American, Danish, and other allied forces. "There was no sliding off to the back line, we fought together," he asserted, describing carrying the bodies of fallen comrades and sharing their grief.
The veteran singled out the impact on the wounded, mentioning his friend Andy Allen, who lost both legs and most of his eyesight. "The president has insulted him, he has insulted me and he has insulted many other people who served in Afghanistan," Mr Beattie said, his anger palpable. He expressed particular concern for the families of the fallen, stating he "could not imagine" their pain upon hearing the President's words.
A Call for Political Leadership and Moral Courage
Turning his criticism towards the domestic political response, Mr Beattie issued a direct challenge to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. "He needs to hold the president to task and he needs to make that public," he insisted. "If he doesn't he will show his absolute weakness and his inability to stand up for those men and women who gave so much in Afghanistan at the behest of the US."
Mr Beattie framed the issue as one of moral courage versus bullying, drawing a stark contrast. "This is a man who doesn't understand service because he dodged the draft and now he is insulting those who served their country," he said of President Trump. His final message was one of defiant remembrance: "I will not allow anybody to trample over the memory of those men and women who I served alongside, who gave so much."
