PM's National Debate on Britain's Armed Forces asked the wrong questions

11.00.38pm GMT Sun 21st Jan 2007

British armed forces are often starved of the right equipment but in the last resort are still expected to put their lives on the line to defend us

Far from opening up a "National Debate" on the role of the United Kingdom's armed forces, the Prime Minister's recent RUSI lecture has largely closed debate down. This was perhaps Mr Blair's intention; in starting such a debate by questioning issues that are largely not in doubt, he has attempted to defuse continuing controversy over his role in taking us into an illegal war in Iraq.

Following Tony Blair's speech onboard HMS ALBION in Plymouth on 12 January, Ming Campbell, leader of the Liberal Democrats, commented "When it comes to the application of military force then we are much more likely, if we have to use military force as a last resort, to be successful in that if we are doing it through the aegis of international institutions like the United Nations or NATO or the European Union; if we are doing it in accordance with international law, and if we are doing it in a way which commands the support of the British public."

Philip James, parliamentary spokesman for the Liberal Democrats in Bristol East said "the Prime Minister asked the wrong questions. There is little to debate about whether Great Britain should continue to be able to defend itself or solely be capable of conducting peacekeeping operations only."

"The real issue is how our armed forces are directed; defensive arms may also be employed offensively, and it is the powers, objectives and motives of our armed forces' political masters that deserve most scrutiny."

"The PM studiously avoided the important questions that we should be debating: what power should the PM have to decide when and where to take us to war?"

"What checks and balances should be placed on that prerogative under our constitution?"

"How do we ensure we never again fight another war judged illegal under international law?"

"We cannot defend ourselves alone, so with whom should we be co-operating most closely to ensure our mutual defence?

"And how do we repair the damage done to our armed forces' readiness and capability to defend us after they have been taken so much for granted and used so cavalierly by Blair and his Chancellor?"