"This is an under-resourced war and it needs more manoeuvre units, it needs more flying machines, it needs more intelligence, surveillance and recognisance apparatus," Gen McNeill said.

"I'm not just focused on the US sector, I'm talking about across the country."

"He suggested that if counter-insurgency guidelines were strictly followed, 400,000 troops would be needed in Afghanistan."

"The new commander of Isaf, Gen David McKiernan, oversaw the ground attack that toppled Saddam Hussein in Iraq.

"His tour of duty comes at a time of increasing attacks on troops on the 40 nations making up the Nato force."

In other words to "win", or control the country, he would need over 6 times the force he has now.

Arf