The departing commander of British forces in Afghanistan, Brigadier Mark Carleton Smith, has claimed that defeating the Taliban was neither feasible nor supportable.

'And there is a sense of blessed finality in such discretion, which is what we all more or less sincerely are ready to admit for what else is it that makes the idea of death supportable?

14. In order better to protect the civilian staff of UNOSOM II and international agency and non governmental organization (NGO) personnel after the 5 June attacks, the Special Representative decided to consolidate the staff of the operation into several secure and logistically supportable locations.