A soldier who refuses to return to active duty in Afghanistan has indicated he will plead not guilty to the charge of desertion.
Lance Corporal Joe Glenton faced court martial at Bulford Military Court Centre in Salisbury, Wiltshire.
He did not enter a formal plea, but defence lawyer Hugh O'Donoghue said the soldier would deny the single charge against him.
Mr O'Donoghue also told the court he may call an expert witness to give evidence on the lawfulness of service and current operations in Afghanistan.
L Cpl Glenton handed in a letter to the Prime Minister to explain why he believes politicians are wasting soldiers' lives in an unjustified war. He is the first British soldier to speak out publicly against the war in Afghanistan.



L/Cpl Joe Glenton's letter to the PM

Dear Mr Brown,
I am writing to you as a serving soldier in the British Army to express my views and concerns on the current conflict in Afghanistan.
It is my primary concern that the courage and tenacity of my fellow soldiers has become a tool of American foreign policy.
I believe this unethical short-changing of such proud men and women has caused immeasurable suffering not only to families of British service personnel who have been killed and injured, but also to the noble people of Afghanistan.
I have seen qualities in the Afghan people which have also been for so long apparent and admired in the British soldier. Qualities of robustness, humour, utter determination and unwillingness to take a step backwards.
However, it is these qualities, on both sides, which I fear will continue to cause a state of attrition. These will only lead to more heartbreak within both our societies.
I am not a general nor am I a politician and I cannot claim any mastery of strategy. However, I am a soldier who has served in Afghanistan, which has given me some small insight.
I believe that when British military personnel submit themselves to the service of the nation and put their bodies into harm's way, the government that sends them into battle is obliged to ensure that the cause is just and right, i.e. for the protection of life and liberty.
The war in Afghanistan is not reducing the terrorist risk, far from improving Afghan lives it is bringing death and devastation to their country. Britain has no business there.
I do not believe that our cause in Afghanistan is just or right. I implore you, Sir, to bring our soldiers home."

Yours sincerely,
Joe Glenton
Lance/Corporal, Royal Logistics Corps.

L/Cpl Glenton has since joined the Stop The War Coalition and Chris Nineham from the STW Coalition said "There is no question there is a lot of dissatisfaction and discontent among the armed forces about Britain's involvement in Afghanistan and L/Cpl Glenton is the first serving soldier to express these views."


*Since the war in Afghanistan began eight years ago, 191 UK service personnel have died.