Blair calls for debate on military role
Enlarge imagePLYMOUTH (Reuters) - Prime Minister Tony Blair challenged the country on Friday to decide what kind of role it wants for its armed forces as he defended his interventionist policies in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In a speech in Plymouth, Blair said Britain ought to continue to have a major influence on world affairs through fighting as well as peacekeeping.
"The risk is that politicians decide it’s all too difficult and default to an unstated, passive disengagement," he said. "Doing the right thing then slips almost unconsciously into doing the easy thing."
"Terrorism can’t be defeated by military means alone, but it can’t be defeated without it," he added.
Blair’s support for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq has been deeply unpopular at home where concern is also mounting about growing British casualties in Afghanistan.
In an interview with ITV Westcountry on Thursday Blair said: "I think it’s right for Britain to be alongside our allies in Iraq and Afghanistan but it is a big decision to be in that game still ... and putting our forces in situations of danger."
U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday announced plans to boost troop numbers in Iraq by 21,500 in a bid to restore order to Baghdad.
Blair said on Thursday the U.S. decision "makes sense" given the levels of .....continued below
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violence in the Iraqi capital but said the situation faced by British troops in southern Iraq was very different.PLYMOUTH (Reuters) - Prime Minister Tony Blair challenged the country on Friday to decide what kind of role it wants for its armed forces as he defended his interventionist policies in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In a speech in Plymouth, Blair said Britain ought to continue to have a major influence on world affairs through fighting as well as peacekeeping.
"The risk is that politicians decide it’s all too difficult and default to an unstated, passive disengagement," he said. "Doing the right thing then slips almost unconsciously into doing the easy thing."
"Terrorism can’t be defeated by military means alone, but it can’t be defeated without it," he added.
Blair’s support for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq has been deeply unpopular at home where concern is also mounting about growing British casualties in Afghanistan.
In an interview with ITV Westcountry on Thursday Blair said: "I think it’s right for Britain to be alongside our allies in Iraq and Afghanistan but it is a big decision to be in that game still ... and putting our forces in situations of danger."
U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday announced plans to boost troop numbers in Iraq by 21,500 in a bid to restore order to Baghdad.
Blair said on Thursday the U.S. decision "makes sense" given the levels of violence in the Iraqi capital but said the situation faced by British troops in southern Iraq was very different.
© 2008 Reuters Click for restrictions
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