Killed soldiers' parents slam 'disrespectful' Trump

Parents of soldiers killed in Afghanistan have criticised Donald Trump's comments that NATO troops stayed "a little off the front lines".

Carol Brackpool, told BBC Radio Sussex she was "angry and shocked" by the US president's remarks, which she called "disrespectful".

Her son John, from Crawley, died while fighting in Afghanistan in 2009.

"President Trump is right - America's contributions to Nato dwarf that of other countries," said the White House.

"How dare that man say things like that," said Brackpool.

She said the pain was still there from losing her child and that it "does not matter how many years it is".

"How can he say that we were behind the American soldiers - we were fighting with them," she added.

The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 following the 9/11 terror attacks.

The UK was among several allies to join US troops in the country after Washington invoked Nato's collective security clause.

Four hundred and fifty-seven British service personnel were killed in the conflict.

Robert Dicketts, whose son Oliver was killed while serving with the Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan in 2006, said Trump's words "beggar belief".

"I think my thoughts about Donald Trump are probably unprintable.

"To put it politely, Donald Trump's knowledge of history is lacking considerably," he continued.

Dicketts, from Tunbridge Wells in Kent, said his 27-year-old son was killed in a frontline operation.

He called on the government to point out the loss of life by British troops.

"A lot of other Nato forces suffered losses as well and were in frontline positions."

The Prime Minister's official spokesman has said Trump was "wrong to diminish the role of Nato troops, including British forces".

The spokesman added that "many hundreds" of troops had suffered "life-changing injuries from their service"

"We are incredibly proud of our armed forces and their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten."

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