Deaths cloud start of new Nato command

David Richards

The death of three British soldiers in Helmand marked the start of Lieutenant General David Richards' command of Nato forces in Afghanistan.

Richards is the first foreigner to take charge of American troops since World War II and the casualties were a grim reminder that his role will be anything but a ceremonial landmark.

Richards, however, is perhaps better equipped than most to cope with this difficult command. He has a reputation in the Army as someone with intellectual rigour, who is "prepared to think outside the box" and not afraid to stand up to politicians.

He has already put his imprint on the operations, deciding that the relatively small numbers of combat troops have been spread too thin across Helmand, making outlying posts vulnerable to Taleban attacks.

From now on they will be concentrated at bases in Helmand, the vast Camp Bastion and Lashkar Gar.

Richards has not hesitated to level criticism at foreign agencies in Afghanistan, ranging from the gun toting, ramboesque American private security guards to non-government organisations whose actions had caused the Afghan population to distrust Western intentions.

Richards also privately believes American troops did not do enough to win hearts and minds in Helmand and that aid projects are now essential to gain the trust of the local population.

To implement this he wants to set up secure areas protected by Nato troops where the projects can begin.

Richards was one of the rising young officers picked out by Sir Mike Jackson, the soon-to-retire Army head, to take the armed forces through a period of transition.

But before doing essentially a desk job as Assistant Chief of General Staff, Richards had served in high profile roles in Sierra Leone and East Timor.

In East Timor he was a passionate advocate of taking tough action to get terrified refugees back to their homes. He took the same combative attitude to Sierra Leone where he was only half jokingly referred to as the "shogun".

Richards' advice was valued by the country's President Ahmed Tejan Kabah, but the Foreign Office in London was weary of him "shooting from the hip" as they put it, or "telling some unpalatable truths", as he said.

Richards came out of Africa undamaged by the political and diplomatic machinations.

But his Afghan command, perhaps the toughest in the organisation's history, will put him under much more critical scrutiny.

CHANGING OF THE GUARD

* Lieutenant General David Richards attended Eastbourne College and was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1971.

* The general received a degree in politics and economics in 1974 from University College, Cardiff.

* He served with the Royal Artillery in the Far East, Germany and the United Kingdom, including three tours in Northern Ireland.

* General Richards also served in high-profile roles in Sierra Leone ( he was referred to as the "shogun"), and in East Timor, where he was a passionate advocate of taking tough action to get refugees back to their homes.

* He was one of the young officers picked to take the armed forces through a period of transition.

- INDEPENDENT