Mother of Wounded Veteran Brands Trump's Afghanistan Comments 'Ultimate Insult'
The mother of Britain's most severely wounded surviving Afghanistan veteran has delivered a powerful condemnation of US President Donald Trump, describing his suggestion that allied troops stayed away from front lines as "the ultimate insult" to those who served and sacrificed.
Family's Anguish Over Presidential Remarks
Diane Dernie, whose son Ben Parkinson suffered catastrophic injuries when his Army Land Rover struck a mine near Musa Qala in 2006, spoke out after Mr Trump claimed in a Fox News interview that NATO allies "stayed a little back, a little off the front lines" during the Afghanistan conflict.
"I can assure you, the Taliban didn't plant IEDs miles and miles back from the front line," Mrs Dernie told the Press Association from her home in Doncaster, Yorkshire.
Her son, former lance bombardier Ben Parkinson of 7 Para RHA, is widely regarded as the most severely injured British soldier to survive the war. The explosion resulted in:
- Both legs amputated
- A twisted spine
- Significant brain damage
Mrs Dernie urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to "call him out" and "make a stand for those who fought for this country and for our flag."
Political Condemnation Across Parties
The president's remarks have drawn criticism from across the political spectrum, with particular focus on the 457 British military deaths in Afghanistan and Mr Trump's own avoidance of military service during the Vietnam War.
Care Minister Stephen Kinnock described the comments as "deeply disappointing" and confirmed Sir Keir would raise the issue with the US president, saying the Prime Minister works "behind the scenes, effectively building alliances."
Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, who served as a captain in the Royal Yorkshire Regiment in Afghanistan, said it was "sad to see our nation's sacrifice held so cheaply" by the American leader.
Labour MP Calvin Bailey, a former RAF officer who served alongside US special operations units in Afghanistan, stated Mr Trump's claim "bears no resemblance to the reality experienced by those of us who served there."
Broader Implications for Transatlantic Relations
The controversy further tests the strained transatlantic relationship, coming after Mr Trump's recent threats to impose tariffs on European nations opposed to his ambitions regarding Greenland. Although he later backed down following discussions with NATO's secretary-general, tensions remain high.
Tan Dhesi, chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, called the president's remarks "appalling and an insult to our brave British servicemen and women," while Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman Dame Emily Thornberry described them as "so much more than a mistake."
The United Kingdom suffered the second-highest number of military deaths in the Afghanistan conflict with 457 fatalities, behind only the United States with 2,461. America's allies collectively suffered 1,160 deaths, representing approximately one-third of total coalition casualties.
Historical Context and Personal Sacrifice
Mrs Dernie highlighted her son's ongoing struggles nearly two decades after his injury, noting he is "still fighting for his care, still fighting for him to have a decent life" following a recent operation.
Former Scottish soldier and journalist Stephen Stewart pointed to the irony of Mr Trump's comments, given the president's avoidance of Vietnam War service through a disputed diagnosis of bone spurs: "He has desecrated the memory of hundreds of British soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice."
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey added on social media: "Trump avoided military service five times. How dare he question their sacrifice."
The only time NATO's mutual defence arrangement has been invoked was following the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, when allies including Britain supported American forces in response to al-Qaida's atrocities.
