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UK 'faces big defence decision' UK 'must continue to fight wars'
(about 2 hours later)
Britain must decide now whether it wants to be a major defence power in the future, Tony Blair will say later in a keynote foreign policy speech. Tony Blair will say his foreign policy is "controversial" but his approach of military intervention must continue after he has stepped down.
The prime minister will defend his policy of intervention in countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr Blair is giving a keynote lecture, in which he will argue a retreat on the "war on terror" would be a catastrophe.
But he will also call for a debate on whether the UK should continue to send troops to trouble spots after he quits. And Britain must be ready to fight wars as well as keep the peace.
He will also acknowledge the army was doing more overseas than planned and there were "real problems" with accommodation for military families.
The prime minister, who has begun his speech at a naval base in Plymouth, is expected to say Britain faces a choice about its future defence needs.
America is spending half a trillion dollars a year - 10 times what we spend Lord Garden Analysis: UK and US split? Bush plan attacked Where are UK troops?
But he will say: "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 said he wanted "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".
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.
'Big decision' Earlier, Liberal Democrat peer Lord Garden, a former assistant chief of defence staff, told the BBC the UK would have to pay much more of its national income if it was to continue the current level of armed activities.
Mr Blair will defend his policy of military intervention in the latest in a series of speeches on Britain's future after he stands down.
America is spending half a trillion dollars a year - 10 times what we spend Lord Garden Analysis: UK and US split? Bush plan attacked Where are UK troops?
In an interview with local television in the West Country, where he is due to deliver the address, Mr Blair said if Britain wanted a leading presence on the world stage it would mean continuing to send troops into dangerous places far away.
"There is a global terrorism that we face," he told the programme.
"I think it's right for Britain, alongside our allies, to be in Iraq and Afghanistan. But it is a big decision to decide to be in that game still."
'High intensity'
Liberal Democrat peer Lord Garden, a former assistant chief of defence staff, told the BBC the UK would have to pay much more of its national income if it was to continue the current level of armed activities.
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"If you want to be able to do everything, be a mini-America, so you can do high-intensity conflict, go everywhere where there are international problems, you really need to scale up by quite a large amount," he told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme."If you want to be able to do everything, be a mini-America, so you can do high-intensity conflict, go everywhere where there are international problems, you really need to scale up by quite a large amount," he told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"I don't think that we can afford to. America is spending half a trillion dollars a year - 10 times what we spend. They spend more on research than we spend on defence.""I don't think that we can afford to. America is spending half a trillion dollars a year - 10 times what we spend. They spend more on research than we spend on defence."
'Additional strains''Additional strains'
He said the forces were "truly overstretched", something which could not be fixed quickly.He said the forces were "truly overstretched", something which could not be fixed quickly.
In November, a National Audit Office report warned that the UK's armed forces were 5,170 under strength and had been operating at or above planned-for levels since 2001.In November, a National Audit Office report warned that the UK's armed forces were 5,170 under strength and had been operating at or above planned-for levels since 2001.
It said the strain of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan at the same time, was one reason for shortages.It said the strain of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan at the same time, was one reason for shortages.
The Ministry of Defence acknowledged "additional strains" on staff, but denied forces were overstretched.The Ministry of Defence acknowledged "additional strains" on staff, but denied forces were overstretched.
Former Air Chief Marshall Sir Michael Graydon said a "modest increase" in the defence budget was not unjustified, but he said the security of its people was the number one task of government.
But he added: "We mustn't fall into the trap of becoming a peace-keeping militia.
"An ability to conduct full-scale military operations is the foundation for successful peace-making and peace-keeping."
Mr Blair is not expected to make any announcement about the withdrawal of UK troops from Iraq, but has said he hopes to make a statement in the coming months.Mr Blair is not expected to make any announcement about the withdrawal of UK troops from Iraq, but has said he hopes to make a statement in the coming months.