Prepare for long war: UK general
Michael Evans, London August 29, 2007
THE head of the British army has ordered his senior staff to make preparations for "a generation of conflict", in a speech the Ministry of Defence tried to keep secret.
General Sir Richard Dannatt gave warning of the dangers posed by a "strident Islamist shadow" and suggested the British army was "on the edge of a new and deadly great game in Afghanistan".
He also told senior staff that the trust and respect of the public could be "increasingly difficult to gain" in the context of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"The challenge of this generation is as great as any that have gone before us," he added.
General Dannatt's thoughts were revealed in a speech given to a conference on future land warfare at the Royal United Services Institute in London in June. The speech remained secret because the Ministry of Defence did not allow the media to attend.
But, under a Freedom of Information request, the contents of the address to senior British and overseas military have now been released.
In his address, General Dannatt underlined the importance of achieving success in Iraq and Afghanistan, which he said were the "all-consuming focus" of the army at present.
But he appeared to play down the prospects of achieving all of the main objectives.
To read the full article from The Australian, click on:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22323187-31477,00.html
THE head of the British army has ordered his senior staff to make preparations for "a generation of conflict", in a speech the Ministry of Defence tried to keep secret.
General Sir Richard Dannatt gave warning of the dangers posed by a "strident Islamist shadow" and suggested the British army was "on the edge of a new and deadly great game in Afghanistan".
He also told senior staff that the trust and respect of the public could be "increasingly difficult to gain" in the context of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"The challenge of this generation is as great as any that have gone before us," he added.
General Dannatt's thoughts were revealed in a speech given to a conference on future land warfare at the Royal United Services Institute in London in June. The speech remained secret because the Ministry of Defence did not allow the media to attend.
But, under a Freedom of Information request, the contents of the address to senior British and overseas military have now been released.
In his address, General Dannatt underlined the importance of achieving success in Iraq and Afghanistan, which he said were the "all-consuming focus" of the army at present.
But he appeared to play down the prospects of achieving all of the main objectives.
To read the full article from The Australian, click on:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22323187-31477,00.html
posted by Pax Christi @ Wednesday, August 29, 2007
<< Home