On the steps of Number 10 Downing Street in October, 2011, British Prime Minister David Cameron took a measured stand in announcing the death of the former leader of Libya, Colonel Gaddafi. There was no triumphalism in his speech, no sense of mission accomplished. Citing Lockerbie, the death of Police Constable Yvonne Fletcher and the supply of arms to the Irish Republican Movement, he highlighted a relationship that existed between these international acts of terrorism and the United Kingdom. His implication was clear. No matter what you thought of the situation, the UK had reasons to be thankful that Gaddafi was gone. For the Prime Minister this was a moment of quiet satisfaction. He had fought and won his first war and it had not cost the life of a single British serviceman. It had been a huge gamble. The Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) had only just cut major elements from the defence budget. To a background of derision from many armchair strategists, HMS Ark Royal and the Harrier fleet had been retired early. The decision to abandon the Nimrod MRA.4 program was the subject of specific criticism. It seemed perverse to cut the UK's Long Range Maritime Patrol (LRMP) capability when Somalian pirates enjoyed the freedom of the Indian Ocean.
No comments:
Post a Comment