Britain Outlines Security Priorities

Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon outlined plans Wednesday to revise and update Britain’s military “concepts, capabilities and forces” in light of the Sept. 11 attacks and the allied campaign in Afghanistan.

International terrorism “and other asymmetric threats” require Britain to improve its air defenses and intelligence gathering, Hoon said in a lecture at King’s College in London. More rapid and flexible deployment of ground troops to combat terrorism or carry out humanitarian and peacekeeping missions will also be necessary, he said.

Identifying and dealing with terrorist threats abroad and, when necessary, deploying troops there, are priorities, Hoon said. He called counter-terrorism efforts a new chapter in the government’s 3-year-old Strategic Defense Review, a program to modernize the armed forces.

British forces could help prevent the growth of terrorist organizations in “less capable states,” he said, by helping such nations develop counter-terrorism capabilities. As for regimes that actively sponsor or harbor terrorists, Britain could deter attacks by making the countries aware of its “range of military options and readiness and willingness to use them if provoked.”

While stressing conflict prevention and diplomacy, Hoon said force may be necessary to stop terrorism.

“We may need to act to destroy terrorist cells with military action, and perhaps, in the last instance, to act against regimes, such as the Taliban, while they support, protect, nurture and direct them,” he said.

Hoon also suggested a hard look at “whether we need more of our forces available at high readiness and a better range of capabilities.”

On national defense, he said, “our work now involves reviewing our longer-term air defense arrangements end-to-end, from radar coverage to ‘shoot-down,’ if necessary.”

After the Sept. 11 attacks in the U.S., Britain stepped up police surveillance and increased security at ports and airports. Hoon said he foresees a greater use of volunteer national reserve troops, with greater integration with regular forces. Britain’s national reserve is similar to the U.S. National Guard.

Hoon did not discuss specific funding plans for the new initiatives or whether the number of troops would increase.