|
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
News Search
|
|
October 8, 2004, Friday BRITISH TROOPS TO FORM AFRICA FORCE Gethin Chamberlain, Diplomatic Correspondent In Addis Ababa BRITISH and European armed forces are to be used to create a rapid reaction force to intervene in conflicts in Africa by as early as next year, Tony Blair announced yesterday. Mr Blair said that the new battle groups would act to end a conflict if Africa was unable to do so on its own. And he warned that failure to tackle Africa's problems risked creating more weak states that would become havens for terrorists, including al-Qaeda. The expansion of Britain's military commitments comes against a backdrop of severe cuts to the country's armed forces, including the loss of one Scottish regiment. There was no immediate indication yesterday as to whether the announcement would prompt a review of the cuts, although senior officers have warned that Britain's armed forces are already stretched to the limit. The Conservatives said Mr Blair's pledge came at "an unfortunate time", given the planned cuts, while one defence expert said Mr Blair was "out of touch with reality" and his government appeared "inept in all matters military". Last month, General John McColl, Britain's most senior officer in Iraq, told The Scotsman that the government had to realise that it could not take on more commitments with existing troop levels. Under the rapid intervention force plan, upwards of 1,000 British soldiers will form part or all of one of ten battle groups being established by the EU. The Prime Minister, in a speech to the Commission for Africa in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, said: "Conflict has too often set back progress in African countries. There will be times when Africa cannot stop a conflict on its own. Then, the rest of the international community must stand ready to help." Referring to the "appalling" humanitarian crisis in Sudan, Mr Blair said Britain and the rest of the international community should be prepared to back African solutions to the continent's problems. He said he wanted Africa to be the top priority for the EU's new rapidly deployable battle groups, which he hoped would be operational as soon as possible in 2005. "These battle groups would allow the EU to respond to a crisis in Africa within ten days to deal with problems immediately," he said. If there was one "noble cause" worth fighting for, he added, it was Africa. "We know that poverty and instability leads to weak states which can become havens for terrorists and other criminals," he said. "Even before 9/11, al-Qaeda had bases in Africa. They still do. Hiding in places where they can go undisturbed by weak governments, where they plan their next attack - which could be anywhere in the world, including right here in Africa, as we have seen." Nicholas Soames, the shadow defence secretary, said: "This comes at an unfortunate time when the government are disbanding regiments and getting rid of manpower and capability." Lt-Col Stuart Crawford, a defence consultant and former tank officer, said: "There are contradictory signals coming out from this administration, which make it appear to be inept in all matters military. "They are promising troops to Africa and on the other hand saying they are reducing absolute infantry numbers. The Labour government is living in a fantasy land."
|
|
||||
|
................................................................................................................. Copyright ©2004 Gethin Chamberlain. All rights reserved. |
|||||||
