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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| UK 'must continue to fight wars' | UK 'must continue to fight wars' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Tony Blair has said his foreign policy is "controversial" but his approach of military intervention must continue after he has stepped down. | Tony Blair has said his foreign policy is "controversial" but his approach of military intervention must continue after he has stepped down. |
| In a major speech, he said the war on terror may last a generation but to retreat would be a "catastrophe". | In a major speech, he said the war on terror may last a generation but to retreat would be a "catastrophe". |
| And Britain must be ready to fight wars as well as keep the peace. | And Britain must be ready to fight wars as well as keep the peace. |
| He also admitted the army was doing more overseas than planned and there were "real problems" with accommodation for military families. | He also admitted the army was doing more overseas than planned and there were "real problems" with accommodation for military families. |
| The prime minister said Britain and the world faced a "new and different" security challenge following 11 September 2001. | The prime minister said Britain and the world faced a "new and different" security challenge following 11 September 2001. |
| And Britain had to choose whether it wanted to be in the front line of the global fight against terrorism, or retreat to a peacekeeping role. | And Britain had to choose whether it wanted to be in the front line of the global fight against terrorism, or retreat to a peacekeeping role. |
| My choice is for armed forces that are prepared to engage in this difficult, tough, challenging campaign, to be war fighters as well as peacekeepers Tony Blair Analysis: UK and US split? Bush plan attacked Where are UK troops? | |
| "My choice is for armed forces that are prepared to engage in this difficult, tough, challenging campaign, to be war fighters as well as peacekeepers," he told an audience of academics and military commanders in Plymouth. | "My choice is for armed forces that are prepared to engage in this difficult, tough, challenging campaign, to be war fighters as well as peacekeepers," he told an audience of academics and military commanders in Plymouth. |
| He said he wanted to see "a British foreign policy that keeps our American alliance strong" and "for us as a nation to be as willing to fight terrorism and pay the cost of that fight wherever it may be". | He said he wanted to see "a British foreign policy that keeps our American alliance strong" and "for us as a nation to be as willing to fight terrorism and pay the cost of that fight wherever it may be". |
| But he also acknowledged the strain Britain's armed forces were under fighting twin campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. | But he also acknowledged the strain Britain's armed forces were under fighting twin campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. |
| 'Extraordinary job' | 'Extraordinary job' |
| "It is true that operational commitments are at a higher level than originally planned. Service personnel are working harder and for longer than intended," he said. | "It is true that operational commitments are at a higher level than originally planned. Service personnel are working harder and for longer than intended," he said. |
| And although he believed the condition of service accommodation had been "exaggerated," he said more needed to be done to improve it. | And although he believed the condition of service accommodation had been "exaggerated," he said more needed to be done to improve it. |
| See how UK defence spending compares to other nations | |
| "The extraordinary job that servicemen do needs to be reflected in the quality of accommodation provided for them and their families, at home or abroad," said Mr Blair. | "The extraordinary job that servicemen do needs to be reflected in the quality of accommodation provided for them and their families, at home or abroad," said Mr Blair. |
| He denied being the sort of "gung-ho" leader who launched their nations "into ill-advised adventures without a thought for the consequences", saying he had tried to make the "right decision". | He denied being the sort of "gung-ho" leader who launched their nations "into ill-advised adventures without a thought for the consequences", saying he had tried to make the "right decision". |
| 'Past glories' | 'Past glories' |
| He said defence spending would have to increase if Britain followed his chosen course and the country would have to accept new realities. | He said defence spending would have to increase if Britain followed his chosen course and the country would have to accept new realities. |
| "On the part of the military, they need to accept that in a volunteer armed force, conflict and therefore casualty may be part of what they are called upon to face. | "On the part of the military, they need to accept that in a volunteer armed force, conflict and therefore casualty may be part of what they are called upon to face. |
| "On the part of the public, they need to be prepared for the long as well as the short campaign, to see our participation alongside allies in such conflict not as an atavistic, misguided attempt to recapture past glories, but as a necessary engagement in order for us to protect our security and advance our interests and values in the modern world." | "On the part of the public, they need to be prepared for the long as well as the short campaign, to see our participation alongside allies in such conflict not as an atavistic, misguided attempt to recapture past glories, but as a necessary engagement in order for us to protect our security and advance our interests and values in the modern world." |
| Former Labour Cabinet minister Clare Short - now an Independent MP - agreed there was an urgent need for "a serious debate about Britain's role in the world". | |
| But she said Mr Blair's decisions had "made the world much more dangerous, much more divided". | |
| The prime minister's speech comes a day after the US announced it was sending more than 20,000 extra troops to Iraq. | The prime minister's speech comes a day after the US announced it was sending more than 20,000 extra troops to Iraq. |
| Britain has said it will withdraw "thousands" of troops from Iraq in the coming months, amid claims the armed services are being "overstretched" by fighting two campaigns, in Iraq and Afghanistan. | Britain has said it will withdraw "thousands" of troops from Iraq in the coming months, amid claims the armed services are being "overstretched" by fighting two campaigns, in Iraq and Afghanistan. |
| DEFENCE SPENDING AND PERSONNEL Country Defence budget %GDP Active personnel US $470.2bn 4% 1,426,713 UK $64bn 2.20% 201,400 France $44bn 2.60% 259,050 Germany $27.9bn 1.30% 284,500 | |
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