Duke: Britain right to be in Afghanistan

LONDON, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Britain is right to be in Afghanistan fighting Taliban insurgents and its troops deserve more support, Prince Andrew says.

In an interview published Saturday in The Daily Telegraph, the fourth in line to the British throne said the government and the public should demonstrate more backing for the effort, and implied Prime Minister Gordon Brown hasn't done enough to explain what's at stake in the conflict.

"It all comes back to leadership," said Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II, who served in the Falklands War flying Royal Navy helicopters. "They (the soldiers) want to know the leadership is interested and concerned in their welfare. They are tremendously loyal people fighting in a campaign."

Andrew says he understands why there are misgivings over the Afghanistan campaign, in which 220 British military personnel have died. But, he added, "They are being remarkably more successful at it than is being adequately communicated."