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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Ed Miliband visits British troops in Afghanistan | Ed Miliband visits British troops in Afghanistan |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ed Miliband has said he would support British military intervention in future conflicts if it was "in the national interest". | Ed Miliband has said he would support British military intervention in future conflicts if it was "in the national interest". |
| On a visit to Afghanistan, the Labour leader said maintaining strong armed forces was "an absolute commitment". | On a visit to Afghanistan, the Labour leader said maintaining strong armed forces was "an absolute commitment". |
| But, he declined to rule out further military spending cuts, saying Labour would "look at strategic needs". | |
| He also promised legislation to outlaw discrimination and abuse of British troops at home. | |
| Mr Miliband met with British military personnel at Camp Bastion, where they are training members of the Afghan National Army in security operations. | |
| 'Rush to war' | 'Rush to war' |
| Asked if as a Prime Minister he could give the public confidence he would intervene militarily in future conflicts, he replied: "Absolutely, if it's in the national interest." | Asked if as a Prime Minister he could give the public confidence he would intervene militarily in future conflicts, he replied: "Absolutely, if it's in the national interest." |
| He added: "I supported the government's action in Libya; I thought it was the right thing to do. | He added: "I supported the government's action in Libya; I thought it was the right thing to do. |
| "I thought there was a clear humanitarian threat to civilians in Libya and there was a clear strategy for what we could achieve. | "I thought there was a clear humanitarian threat to civilians in Libya and there was a clear strategy for what we could achieve. |
| "Indeed, we did achieve our end of protecting Libyan civilians. | "Indeed, we did achieve our end of protecting Libyan civilians. |
| "In Syria, it would have been a rush to war and it would've been a mistake. | "In Syria, it would have been a rush to war and it would've been a mistake. |
| "That's why we took the position we did. | "That's why we took the position we did. |
| "No two conflicts are the same. We should support action when it's in our national interest, but we should do so always being clear that we have a proper strategy. | "No two conflicts are the same. We should support action when it's in our national interest, but we should do so always being clear that we have a proper strategy. |
| "A clear and worked out strategy, not a rush to war." | "A clear and worked out strategy, not a rush to war." |
| Military covenant | |
| Mr Miliband also told BBC News the first Queen's Speech of a Labour government would include legislation to prevent the abuse and discrimination of military personnel at home. | |
| "We know surveys suggest one in five members of our armed forces suffer abuse or are refused access to restaurants, hotels and bars," he said. | |
| "I don't see why that should happen; I don't think that's what the British people want. | |
| "We know the esteem in which our armed forces are held and we should reflect that in legislation. | |
| "We have a military covenant and this is part of fulfilling that covenant, which is supported by all parties." | |
| In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said: "The men and women of our armed forces reflect what is best in our society and any discrimination against them is unacceptable. | |
| "We have worked hard to ensure our armed forces, veterans and families have the support they need and are treated with the dignity they deserve." |