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| Ex-army chief urges PM to consider 'boots on the ground' to fight Isis | Ex-army chief urges PM to consider 'boots on the ground' to fight Isis |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A former head of the army has called on the government to “think the previously unthinkable” and consider sending ground troops to combat Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. | A former head of the army has called on the government to “think the previously unthinkable” and consider sending ground troops to combat Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. |
| Sir Richard Dannatt, the former chief of the general staff, said he felt air strikes had failed to stop the advance of the extremist organisation and urged parliament to debate deploying up to 5,000 infantry soldiers. | Sir Richard Dannatt, the former chief of the general staff, said he felt air strikes had failed to stop the advance of the extremist organisation and urged parliament to debate deploying up to 5,000 infantry soldiers. |
| However, Dannatt’s call was immediately dismissed by Sajid Javid, the business secretary, who told the Andrew Marr Show on BBC1 that the crisis in Syria and Iraq was “not a war on the ground for British troops”. | |
| Javid said: “Clearly the news we’ve had this week is very difficult and we need to see what more can be done in terms of providing the help we already are, both in terms of training or intelligence or equipment. But the answer to this is not going to be British troops on the ground.” | |
| Isis, responsible for the beheadings of several British hostages, has recently gained control of the ancient town of Palmyra, in Syria, and the Iraqi city of Ramadi. | Isis, responsible for the beheadings of several British hostages, has recently gained control of the ancient town of Palmyra, in Syria, and the Iraqi city of Ramadi. |
| Lord Dannatt, writing in the Daily Mail, said: “In light of this terrifying scenario, how much longer can Britain and the US continue to show such a lack of commitment to defeating Isis mililtarily? Their default option of air strikes and limited assistance to indigenous forces has failed thus far. | Lord Dannatt, writing in the Daily Mail, said: “In light of this terrifying scenario, how much longer can Britain and the US continue to show such a lack of commitment to defeating Isis mililtarily? Their default option of air strikes and limited assistance to indigenous forces has failed thus far. |
| Related: First Ramadi, then Palmyra: Isis shows it can storm bastions of Syria and Iraq | Related: First Ramadi, then Palmyra: Isis shows it can storm bastions of Syria and Iraq |
| “We have now reached a point when we must think the previously unthinkable and consider that British troops, acting as part of an international coalition, may be required to mount a ground campaign in Iraq and Syria. | “We have now reached a point when we must think the previously unthinkable and consider that British troops, acting as part of an international coalition, may be required to mount a ground campaign in Iraq and Syria. |
| “I am no gung-ho general who says ‘just send the boys in and don’t worry about the body bags’, far from it, but faced with such a lethal and uncompromising enemy as Isis – and with the lack of political and diplomatic solutions at our disposal – we can no longer rule out ‘boots on the ground’.” | “I am no gung-ho general who says ‘just send the boys in and don’t worry about the body bags’, far from it, but faced with such a lethal and uncompromising enemy as Isis – and with the lack of political and diplomatic solutions at our disposal – we can no longer rule out ‘boots on the ground’.” |
| Political leaders had avoided the “politically toxic” question during the general election campaign but David Cameron should begin planning, the retired general added. | Political leaders had avoided the “politically toxic” question during the general election campaign but David Cameron should begin planning, the retired general added. |
| “What I am calling for today is for a public and political debate to begin immediately, so that arguments for and against the deployment of western ground forces can be aired … An opportunity to generate public support for a fully fledged military intervention was lost, so we have got to start talking about and planning for a potential deployment now. Planning is one thing, a decision to commit is another, and could come later.” | “What I am calling for today is for a public and political debate to begin immediately, so that arguments for and against the deployment of western ground forces can be aired … An opportunity to generate public support for a fully fledged military intervention was lost, so we have got to start talking about and planning for a potential deployment now. Planning is one thing, a decision to commit is another, and could come later.” |
| Dannatt admitted there would be political challenges, including obtaining a United Nations security council resolution with the backing of China and Russia, while Syrian president Bashar al-Assad should be removed from office but “granted sanctuary in another state”. | Dannatt admitted there would be political challenges, including obtaining a United Nations security council resolution with the backing of China and Russia, while Syrian president Bashar al-Assad should be removed from office but “granted sanctuary in another state”. |
| The defence secretary, Michael Fallon, announced in March two RAF Sentinel surveillance aircraft had been deployed to the region to operate alongside Tornado strike jets and Reaper drones that have been carrying out air strikes against Isis targets in Iraq. | The defence secretary, Michael Fallon, announced in March two RAF Sentinel surveillance aircraft had been deployed to the region to operate alongside Tornado strike jets and Reaper drones that have been carrying out air strikes against Isis targets in Iraq. |
| And the UK has sent around 75 military trainers and headquarters staff to provide instruction in the use of small arms, infantry tactics and medical skills as part of a US-led programme to support the moderate Syrian opposition. | And the UK has sent around 75 military trainers and headquarters staff to provide instruction in the use of small arms, infantry tactics and medical skills as part of a US-led programme to support the moderate Syrian opposition. |