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Afghan war 'protecting Britain' | Afghan war 'protecting Britain' |
(10 minutes later) | |
The war in Afghanistan is vital to protect British freedoms and national security, John Hutton has told MPs. | The war in Afghanistan is vital to protect British freedoms and national security, John Hutton has told MPs. |
The new defence secretary said allowing the "return of the Taleban and al-Qaeda" would pose "a clear and present danger to the security of the UK". | The new defence secretary said allowing the "return of the Taleban and al-Qaeda" would pose "a clear and present danger to the security of the UK". |
He also said there was "tangible evidence" of progress in Iraq. | He also said there was "tangible evidence" of progress in Iraq. |
His Tory shadow Liam Fox called for a review of policy on "decompression" - the term used for bringing personnel out of war zones for a period of time. | His Tory shadow Liam Fox called for a review of policy on "decompression" - the term used for bringing personnel out of war zones for a period of time. |
Mr Hutton, in his first defence debate since taking up the role, acknowledged it had been a "difficult year" with 35 British service personnel killed in Afghanistan. | Mr Hutton, in his first defence debate since taking up the role, acknowledged it had been a "difficult year" with 35 British service personnel killed in Afghanistan. |
'Clear and present danger' | 'Clear and present danger' |
He said he had to make clear to people why "we are asking the men and women of the armed forces to potentially pay the ultimate price". | He said he had to make clear to people why "we are asking the men and women of the armed forces to potentially pay the ultimate price". |
"It is to protect our freedom, our values, our security as a nation," he said. | "It is to protect our freedom, our values, our security as a nation," he said. |
Mr Hutton said those who questioned the mission had to be clear about the alternative: "This is not a discretionary war. The return of the Taleban and al-Qaeda, the power to recreate a safe haven for international terrorism, would constitute a disaster for the international community. | Mr Hutton said those who questioned the mission had to be clear about the alternative: "This is not a discretionary war. The return of the Taleban and al-Qaeda, the power to recreate a safe haven for international terrorism, would constitute a disaster for the international community. |
"It would represent a clear and present danger to the security of the UK. We cannot allow that to happen." | "It would represent a clear and present danger to the security of the UK. We cannot allow that to happen." |
Once we have completed our key tasks in the south, we expect to see a fundamental change of military mission in Iraq in the early months of next year John Hutton class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7699357.stm">Deafness fears for Afghan troops | |
On Wednesday the government announced it would invest £700m on new and upgraded vehicles for Afghanistan - the Taleban has increased its use of roadside bomb attacks. | On Wednesday the government announced it would invest £700m on new and upgraded vehicles for Afghanistan - the Taleban has increased its use of roadside bomb attacks. |
Mr Hutton said some of the money would be spent on training vehicles - an area where, he admitted, "the ministry has been very heavily criticised". | Mr Hutton said some of the money would be spent on training vehicles - an area where, he admitted, "the ministry has been very heavily criticised". |
More than £3.6bn had been approved for urgent operational requirements, MPs were told. | More than £3.6bn had been approved for urgent operational requirements, MPs were told. |
Taleban talks | Taleban talks |
On Iraq he said there had been "real and tangible progress" and the security situation in Basra had "significantly improved". | On Iraq he said there had been "real and tangible progress" and the security situation in Basra had "significantly improved". |
"Once we have completed our key tasks in the south, we expect to see a fundamental change of military mission in Iraq in the early months of next year," he added. | "Once we have completed our key tasks in the south, we expect to see a fundamental change of military mission in Iraq in the early months of next year," he added. |
For the Conservatives, Dr Fox agreed that the main reason for British troops to be in Afghanistan was for "our national security". | For the Conservatives, Dr Fox agreed that the main reason for British troops to be in Afghanistan was for "our national security". |
He said it was not possible to have a "purely military victory" but was possible to have a "purely military defeat". | He said it was not possible to have a "purely military victory" but was possible to have a "purely military defeat". |
He urged the government to reconsider their stance on decompression - when troops returning from Afghanistan and Iraq are placed in a monitored environment in Cyprus, to "wind down" ahead of returning to normal life. | He urged the government to reconsider their stance on decompression - when troops returning from Afghanistan and Iraq are placed in a monitored environment in Cyprus, to "wind down" ahead of returning to normal life. |
Dr Fox said: "I was quite surprised to discover that the civil servants in the FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) who are in Iraq get a compulsory decompression out of theatre every seven weeks. | Dr Fox said: "I was quite surprised to discover that the civil servants in the FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) who are in Iraq get a compulsory decompression out of theatre every seven weeks. |
"We are lucky that some of our soldiers after a six month tour are getting much more than 48 hours decompression." | "We are lucky that some of our soldiers after a six month tour are getting much more than 48 hours decompression." |
He said it was "essential" to soldiers' wellbeing and he hoped that ministers would conduct an immediate review. | He said it was "essential" to soldiers' wellbeing and he hoped that ministers would conduct an immediate review. |
Liberal Democrat spokesman Nick Harvey said it was an "open secret" that Britain had had talks with the Taleban in Afghanistan. | Liberal Democrat spokesman Nick Harvey said it was an "open secret" that Britain had had talks with the Taleban in Afghanistan. |
"It's pretty much an open secret that the Afghanistan government does this, that tribal elders do this, that the Pakistanis do this, and that we do this - and it is entirely right that we should," he said. | "It's pretty much an open secret that the Afghanistan government does this, that tribal elders do this, that the Pakistanis do this, and that we do this - and it is entirely right that we should," he said. |
He added: "It's entirely logical and right that these sorts of dialogue have to take place if we hope ever to get to a point where they could be reconciled and made part of a lasting solution." | He added: "It's entirely logical and right that these sorts of dialogue have to take place if we hope ever to get to a point where they could be reconciled and made part of a lasting solution." |
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