Subject: Press release from Paul Keetch MP

Embargo; Immediate 24th September 2001

Press release from Paul Keetch, 
MP for Hereford and Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesman.

Speech in Bournemouth this morning.

Paul Keetch MP - Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesman
Speech on Military Action in Afghanistan (Conference 24/09/01):

My fellow Liberal Democrats, there can be no one in this room that has not 
been shaken by the terrible terrorist attacks on the United States on the 
11th of September. 

The everyday sight of a jumbo jet, flying low over London heading for 
Heathrow, will now carry a new and awful meaning for all of us.

Nothing, I repeat, nothing can justify such a savage attack on freedom, 
and such a disgusting assault on innocent lives.

It was outside the bounds of international law and showed no regard for 
human rights. 

In our response, therefore, we must remain within international law and 
always respect the human rights that the terrorists seek to destroy. 

My fellow Liberal Democrats, it is probable that in the next few days and 
weeks, British troops will be in military action. 

We must always remember that the members of the Armed Forces and their 
families are our constituents, and our friends. 

Whether it is the RAF based in Ming's constituency; the Army in 
Colchester; the Navy in Mike Hancock's Portsmouth constituency; the many 
West Country MPs with the Royal Marines and the Fleet Air Arm in their 
constituencies; or indeed, the soldiers in my own constituency of 
Hereford. 

If they go into battle we must support them and pray for their safe return 
home.

Now I support 'proportionate military action' against terrorism. But I 
understand what is meant by that phrase. 

Military force is a tool, not a policy.  The aim of any action must be 
clearly stated and the scale of operations directed towards the 
achievement of that aim.

In short, such action must be targeted, based on sound, well-developed 
intelligence and fall within the boundaries of international law. 

We must remember that the terrorists want us to over-react -  they want a 
knee-jerk response to the horror of their actions. We must not fall into 
their trap.

So what is the horror of terrorism? The horror of terrorism is the killing 
of innocents. 

The murder of a young child, sitting on one of the planes that destroyed 
the World Trade Center. That is terrorism. 

The murder of a mother and child in Omagh, blown-up by an IRA bomb while 
out shopping. That is terrorism. 

Or the murder of a young Palestinian or Israeli child in the Middle East, 
cut down by an attack-helicopter or blown-up by a suicide bomber. That too 
is terrorism. 

They are all unacceptable.

But, my fellow Liberal Democrats, young children, starving in a refugee 
camp in Afghanistan, that too is unacceptable, and if we fight we must 
remember them too. 

I believe that we cannot triumph over terrorism simply through military 
strikes against Afghanistan. 

Victory can only be won through a tightly woven coalition, a coalition of 
many nations, a coalition, yes, of military action, but also of 
intelligence, diplomacy and well-directed humanitarian aid. 

Blanket bombing of Afghanistan will achieve nothing, save to make those 
intent on committing acts of terror all the more desperate and aggressive. 

If this is the action that anyone intends, then we must counsel against 
it. 

We may have felt slightly uncomfortable with some of the rhetoric we have 
heard over the last weeks - but we must remember that actions speak louder 
than words - and it is actions that we will ultimately have to judge.

We should support this alliance of states and peoples, undertaking to 
win-out over terrorism. 

I urge you to vote for the motion.

Ends