![From left, Brigadier Jerry Thomas, commander of 3 Commando Brigade, takes over from Brigadier Ed Butler, commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade in southern Afghanistan [Picture: Press Information Centre Kandahar] . Opens in a new window.](http://collections.europarchive.org/tna/20061023111245/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Templates/GenerateThumbnail.aspx?imageURL=/NR/rdonlyres/FE95FC50-089B-45DD-9A76-E87A0CD1AAB4/0/BrigadierButlerHandsovertoBrigadierThomas.JPG&maxSize=210)
Brigadier Ed Butler of the Parachute Regiment, pictured right, handing over command British Forces in Afghanistan to Brigadier Jerry Thomas, Royal Marines, last week
[Picture: Press Information Centre Kandahar]
In a letter to a national newspaper, Brigadier Butler said:
"Your front page story paints a misleading and mischievous picture of what I said at a media briefing on Tuesday. It omits some of my comments, and extrapolates meaning and intention from others which is completely false.
"I did not say the operation in Iraq had cost "years of progress" in Afghanistan; I did not say it had left "a dangerous vacuum" and I did not say that British soldiers faced a tougher task now because of it.
"I made clear that the operation in Iraq had concentrated UK resources and focus for a time; this is hardly rocket science, nor is it news. I also made clear, however, that the coalition had not slipped back in Afghanistan as a result, nor would it affect its ability to get the job done.
"Since 2002 the Karzai government's influence has been cemented in Kabul, extended to the north and the west and, now, is being spread in the south and then the east.
"The dedicated, courageous and professional soldiers I had the privilege of leading in Afghanistan were nothing short of inspirational. I'm immensely proud of them all, and of all they have achieved as part of a difficult mission which, I made clear on Tuesday, is "emphatically worthwhile".
"I am deeply disappointed that [this newspaper] didn't feel able to reflect my views it in its front page report."
