UK 'not desperate' to leave Afghanistan says Liam Fox

BBC Online

Defence Secretary Liam Fox says the UK is "not desperate" to leave Afghanistan and is there for "national security".


He also said mentoring Afghan security forces "distinguished an army of liberation from an army of occupation."

His comments come as a hunt is under way for a rogue Afghan soldier who killed three UK soldiers in Nahr-e Saraj, Helmand on Tuesday.

One has been named locally by MP David Simpson as Neil Turkington from Portadown, County Armagh.

And a Royal Marine was shot dead in a separate incident in Helmand province, also on Tuesday.

The BBC understands that one of the soldiers killed was shot and the other two were killed by a rocket-propelled grenade. The Taliban have claimed the Afghan soldier responsible had joined their insurgency.

But Dr Fox dismissed reports the Afghan soldier was a Taliban militant.

He blamed a rogue individual for the attack on members of 1st Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles, and said the incident should be kept in proportion.

"We've always recognised the risks that are inherent within partnering and we have worked very hard to reduce these to a minimum.

"But we can never guarantee against the actions of a rogue individual.

"We're also very clear that the benefits outweigh the risks, because it offers the quickest and most effective way of delivering our campaign objectives and, ultimately, having UK forces returning home."

Our Mission in Afghanistan

We must build an Afghanistan strong enough to resist terrorism.


Soldiers of A Company of the1st Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles preparing for a patrol at their patrol base in a Nahr e Saraj village, in Helmand, on June 22, 2010. Image: Getty Images

By Liam Fox, Secretary of State for Defence for The Wall Street Journal

In each generation, there are moments of history that people remember vividly. Some such moments are confined to national experience—in Britain, the death of Princess Diana, or the resignation of Margaret Thatcher—but some have a global impact.

On Sept. 11, 2001, I was in the House of Commons in London. I watched on television as the second plane smashed into the South Tower. My disbelief turned to horror. This was not an accident, but a well planned and executed attack against a highly symbolic target. Not an attack against individuals, and not against the United States alone, but against all free peoples. The smouldering ruins of the World Trade Center marked the graves of more than 2,500 people. The carnage did not discriminate between nationality, color or creed. It changed the lives of thousands of families and it changed the way political leaders saw the world.

In Afghanistan today, the NATO-led operations are a direct consequence of 9/11, with troops from 46 countries, including 9,500 British forces. The Taliban gave al Qaeda sanctuary and allowed it to run terrorist training camps from Afghanistan. Now, though driven out of power, reduced and under considerable pressure, al Qaeda and their backers in the Taliban continue to pose a real threat on both sides of the border with Pakistan.

Afghanistan is where the will of the international community is being tested and it is where the sacrifice continues to be significant. The brunt is being borne by America, but there are grieving families in countries across the coalition.

It is understandable that our democratic societies question whether the sacrifice is worth it. We need to be clear about our objectives, and clear about how we will achieve them. We must not confuse the reason we are in Afghanistan—to deny terrorists a safe haven—with the way in which we will succeed: building an Afghanistan that is strong enough to resist on its own.

We must remember that Afghanistan, just as Iraq, is not a classic war of attrition—this is counter-insurgency, and it will not be won by military means alone. There is no group of commanders sitting patiently in a tent awaiting a delegation under a white flag offering a formal surrender.

This is about reducing the threat to a level that the Afghan government can manage on its own, without the risk to the outside world that we saw graphically at 9/11. Our mission is focused on creating a stable enough system of security and governance to achieve this.

With Pakistani forces bearing down on terrorists and extremists on their side, al Qaeda and their Taliban supporters are taking a considerable hit. As the forces of the coalition surge and the Afghan National Security Forces grow and become more effective, the challenge is being taken into the remaining strongholds of the Taliban-led insurgency. But our opponents are determined, motivated and adaptable. They will continue to test themselves against the surge in international troop numbers, seeking to prove their relevance and resilience. We can expect ground to be contested across Afghanistan, and, sadly, we can also expect more casualties across the coalition.

We must hold our nerve and maintain our resilience. If we want people to pay the price of success, we must spell out the cost of failure. If NATO left Afghanistan now, the Taliban would wrest control of parts of the country and al-Qaeda and their terrorist training camps could return. It would be a shot in the arm to violent extremists everywhere. Instability could spread across this volatile region. Failure would also damage the credibility of NATO, which has been the cornerstone of the defense of the West for the past half-century. We would be less safe and less secure, our resolve called into question and our cohesion weakened.

In the capitals of the coalition, we must recognize that tactical set-backs are not strategic defeats; that progress will be incremental, where there are more good days than bad; and that our impatience to see our troops come home should be subservient to the needs of national security.

As a coalition we need to have clear messages for the Afghan people, and those messages need to be communicated by our deeds as well as our words. We are neither colonizers nor occupiers. We are not in Afghanistan to create a carbon copy of a Western democracy, and we are not there to convert the people to Western ways. We seek government of Afghanistan by the Afghans themselves. We insist only that it does not pose a security threat to our interests or allies.

American and Britain have stood shoulder to shoulder many times in the past, in the face of tyranny and adversity—in defense of freedom. Today in Afghanistan we stand shoulder to shoulder again, alongside our many partners and alongside the Afghans themselves. The struggle against terrorism endures and is bigger than any single country or any single leader, political or military. In the long shadow of 9/11, only united will we prevail.

Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox comments on General McChrystal

Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox has spoken to the media about yesterday's resignation of General Stanley McChrystal from his post as Commander of US and NATO coalition forces in Afghanistan.

General Stanley McChrystal meeting British troops at Camp Bastion

In a statement published on NATO's ISAF website General McChrystal said:

"This morning the President accepted my resignation as Commander of US and NATO coalition forces in Afghanistan.

"I strongly support the President's strategy in Afghanistan and am deeply committed to our coalition forces, our partner nations, and the Afghan people. It was out of respect for this commitment and a desire to see the mission succeed that I tendered my resignation.

"It has been my privilege and honour to lead our nation's finest."

Speaking to the British media Dr Liam Fox said:

"I think the first thing is to pay tribute to General McChrystal and his leadership and his total transformation of the strategy in Afghanistan.

"General Petraeus is an outstanding General who will lead ISAF, I think, with distinction. I think the other thing to say is that Britain stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the United States in our determination to see through the mission in Afghanistan."

Asked whether ISAF's strategy in Afghanistan will remain the same, as it was General McChrystal who wrote it, Dr Fox said:

"Well, it's very clear that that is now the coalition strategy; that we have a clear counter-insurgency mission in place; that we intend to be resolute in that mission; and that with General Parker, the British General taking over temporarily, we will get continuity, as we must have in this extremely important struggle against the trans-national terrorists who are making life difficult in that part of the world."

Asked whether the Taliban will be rejoicing at what they might perceive as division at the top of the NATO command, Dr Fox said:

"There can be no celebration amongst our enemies, the Taliban or anybody else, because it's very clear that we're getting a continuity in policy; that General Parker, taking over temporarily will provide that continuity, and General Petraeus will continue the policy of counter-insurgency that General McChrystal started.

"I think General McChrystal contributed a huge amount personally to the strategy being created in the way that it has, in shaping it and taking it forward, and we're enormously grateful to him for that.

"General Petraeus is enormously distinguished, as we know, and will continue that leadership, and the struggle will go on with the strategy that was set out."

UK Afghanistan Operational Allowance to double

During his recent visit to Afghanistan, Prime Minister David Cameron announced the doubling of the Operational Allowance (OA).


Mr Cameron announced that the tax-free allowance will increase from £14.51 per day to £29.02 and payments will be backdated to 6 May 2010.

Therefore, from 6 May 2010, Service personnel will receive £5,280.88 tax-free for a 182-day (six-month) tour in an appropriate operational area.

Payment is in the form of a single lump sum paid on completion of operational service. The first payments at the new rate will be made in July.

Service personnel who have earned or will earn OA during the period 6 May to 30 June 2010 will be paid in the June 2010 pay run at the old rate of £14.51. A compensating payment, taking the rate increase into account, will be activated manually and, wherever possible, will be paid in the July 2010 pay run.

British soldiers make their way through a dust storm shortly after their arrival in Afghanistan

Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox said:

"I am delighted that we have doubled the Operational Allowance for those of our troops who are engaged in the very highest areas of conflict.

"In doing so we have fulfilled a key commitment set out in our coalition programme for government."

The Operational Allowance is paid to Service personnel engaged in the most demanding of conflicts and who are deployed on agreed operations: Op HERRICK (Afghanistan), Op TELIC (Iraq), and Combined Task Force Iraqi Maritime (naval operations in the Gulf).

Pictures: Sergeant Ian Forsyth

Afghanistan: beginning of the end

David Cameron will today set out a hard-headed new approach to Afghanistan that will raise hopes that British troop numbers in the country will be reduced in little more than a year.

By James Kirkup and Thomas Harding, Daily Telegraph

The Prime Minister will tell MPs that the Government was trying to accelerate the process that will allow forces to start coming home.


Government insiders said Mr Cameron was keen to start winding down a war he inherited from Labour.

His Commons statement today comes after ministers removed Britain’s most senior military commander from his post amid frustrations at the way the war was being conducted. The early departure of Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, the Chief of the Defence Staff, allows Mr Cameron to choose a new chief to oversee his strategy.

Sir Jock’s early retirement later this year was announced yesterday by Dr Liam Fox, the Defence Secretary, who said it would allow ministers to put the “appropriate” commander into the top military post.

Sir Bill Jeffrey, the senior civil servant at the Ministry of Defence, will also step down.

Ministers are risking a row with Whitehall chiefs by considering replacing him with Bernard Gray, a procurement expert from outside the civil service. Jeremy Haywood, a senior Downing Street official, is also a contender.

The candidates to replace Sir Jock are Gen Sir David Richards, the head of the Army, and Gen Sir Nick Houghton, Sir Jock’s deputy. The successor will have a two-year term to oversee a shift in the approach to Afghanistan.

The new “national security-driven” approach includes:

* Increased Government efforts to persuade voters that the Afghan mission is succeeding and showing that Afghan government forces can secure the country.

* Lowering the criteria for success from a fully stable country to “some stability”.

* A clear commitment to a US-led review of the Afghan war that assumes troop withdrawals from next July.

Underlining the changing mood, Dr Fox said yesterday that ministers “don’t want to be in Afghanistan for a day longer than necessary”.

Rhetoric over Afghanistan has changed in recent days. Sir David last week said Britain was engaged in a “war”. Mr Cameron followed that up by referring to “a war of necessity, not a war of choice”. The previous government had referred to it as a conflict.

Mr Cameron will today tell MPs that he will not set an “artificial timetable” for troops to return from Afghanistan.

But he will make clear that Britain is fully committed to an American-led process that will reassess the Afghan mission later this year and start a reduction in troop numbers from July 2011.

Britain has 10,000 troops in Afghanistan. A total of 295 British soldiers have died there since they entered in 2001.

Ministers are braced for fresh public unease over the Afghan mission when the British death toll passes 300 in the coming weeks.

That grim milestone may put new pressure on the coalition, since the Liberal Democrats have been strong critics of the mission.

Mr Cameron has admitted that public support for the conflict will drain away if there is not “real progress” within the next 12 months.

To help prepare the ground for any eventual withdrawal, Mr Cameron has ordered new information to be supplied to voters about the progress being made in Afghanistan.

Regular statements to Parliament and other public announcements about conditions will be used to promote the idea that the mission is succeeding, creating the conditions for troop reductions.

President Barack Obama has ordered a “surge” in US troop numbers this year. But he assured American voters he would start bringing soldiers home next year.

He has told Gen Stanley McChrystal, the US commander in Afghanistan, to work to a timetable of reducing troop numbers as early as 2011. Nato allies including Canada are also committed to withdrawal in 2011. Mr Cameron will today insist that all Afghan decisions will be based on national security.

He will also make clear that the coalition is looking to reduce troop levels in line with the Americans.

A senior Government source said: “Over the next 12 months, we have to show people the progress we are making and then start looking at how many people we have [in Afghanistan] and the jobs they are doing.”

British military chiefs have suggested that some UK forces will be required in Afghanistan for at least five years.

But overall British numbers could fall sharply. The role of the remaining forces could also change, from front-line combat operations to mentoring and supporting Afghan security forces.

Sir Richard Dannatt, the former Army chief now advising the Tories, yesterday spoke of an “exit strategy”. He said: “The future of the country must be in Afghan hands.”

Mr Cameron last week visited Afghanistan as part of his review of the British mission.

He has also consulted critics of the existing strategy, including Lord Ashdown, the former Lib Dem leader.

Winding down the mission could also relieve the pressure on the defence budget. Dr Fox said the number of Britain’s front-line military personnel could be cut as ministers try to reduce the deficit.

Secretary of State for Defence visits troops in Helmand Province

Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Liam Fox, visited troops in Lashkar Gah in Helmand Province today in his first visit since taking up his Cabinet post. He was joined by Foreign Secretary William Hague, International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell and Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup.


Right Honorable (Rt Hon) William Hague Member of Parliament (MP), The Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP, The Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP, the Secretary of State for International Development

The visitors were briefed by Brigadier Richard Felton, the Commander of Task Force Helmand and by Lindy Cameron, the head of the Provincial Reconstruction Team before meeting service personnel based in Lashkar Gah.

Captain Stuart Thomas of 204 Signal Squadron said: “It’s a great show of support for the three ministers to come out so shortly after the election and it was great to hear them speak passionately about our achievements in Afghanistan. Liam Fox was keen to find out what life is like for us here and our relationship with the Afghan Security Forces, which is improving all the time”.

All three Ministers then addressed the assembled service and civilian personnel and praised their courage and dedication to the mission in Afghanistan.


Liam Fox said: "I will give you my promise that we will do everything we can to ensure that whatever you are asked to do, you are properly, fully equipped to do so, to maximise your chance of success and minimise the risk to you."
Mr Hague paid tribute to the progress which has been made in Helmand saying he was "full of admiration” for the work being done.

He said: "It's very encouraging for all of us who have been here 18 months or two years ago to see the enormous progress that's been made thanks to your incredible hard work. The difference over that period, the difference in governance, the difference in freedom of movement, the difference in protecting communities, is colossal. And a lot of that progress has been made in the last few months. We want to thank you for all that hard work."


Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup

Many soldiers were keen to know about the promised doubling of operational bonuses. The Defence Secretary announced that after discussions with the Treasury, the new Government will be sticking to the pledge and details of the increase will be announced in next month’s budget.

UK Secretaries of State visit Afghanistan

The Secretaries of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Defence, and International Development are today visiting Afghanistan.

From left Defence Secretary Liam Fox, Foreign Secretary William Hague and International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell talking during the flight to Kabul, Afghanistan

They will meet President Karzai, relevant Ministers and senior officials, in order to gain a better understanding of the situation in Afghanistan, of the options going forward, and of the further work needing to be done.

They will also meet British troops, civilian staff, and visit a British funded development project.

The international effort to bring about a more stable and secure Afghanistan is vital to UK national security. That is why the UK Government's most urgent overseas priority is to focus on the strategy for Afghanistan, and why a tripartite visit has been organised so quickly.

The Foreign Secretary, William Hague, said:

"Our most urgent priority is to get to grips with the situation in Afghanistan. It will consume a lot of our time, energy and effort and it is therefore vital that Ministers have a strong understanding of the issues.

"We need to give the strategy time and support to succeed, and we are here in Afghanistan to explore this at the earliest opportunity."

General Stanley McChrystal, Commander of ISAF meets (from left) William Hague, Liam Fox and Andrew Mitchell at ISAF HQ in Kabul, Afghanistan

The Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Liam Fox said:

"I am delighted to be making my first visit to Afghanistan since being appointed Secretary of State for Defence, seeing for myself the situation on the ground with regard to UK forces and meeting senior military commanders and Afghan Ministerial counterparts.

"I am very much looking forward to meeting UK servicemen and women whose bravery, dedication, professionalism and very real sacrifice is playing an absolutely vital role in protecting the UK’s national security – the reason we are in Afghanistan."

The International Development Secretary, Andrew Mitchell, said:

"Afghanistan remains one of the poorest countries in the world. There are few countries where the combination of our moral commitment to development and safeguarding our national interest is so enmeshed.

"Building the capacity of the state to guarantee security and stability, deliver development and reduce poverty is central to defeating violent extremism and protecting British streets. Looking at ways to improve the quality and impact of our aid will be a key part of this visit."

Pictures: Lewis Whyld/PA Wire

Command and control changes in southern Afghanistan

Changes to the command and control of ISAF forces in southern Afghanistan, that will see the current Regional Command (South) split in two to better reflect the significant changes on the ground in recent months, have been announced today.

The announcement from ISAF, the International Security Assistance Force, confirms that the present Regional Command (South) will be split into two new headquarters.

A new Regional Command (South West), based in Helmand, will oversee Helmand and Nimruz provinces; while the existing Regional Command (South), headquartered in Kandahar, will continue to control ISAF forces in Kandahar, Daykundi, Uruzgan and Zabul provinces.

This change, which is based on the military advice of ISAF commanders on the ground, reflects a number of significant changes over recent months and was welcomed today by the Defence Secretary, Dr Liam Fox.

The recent changes on the ground include a large increase in the number of ISAF troops in southern Afghanistan - up from 35,000 in October 2009 to over 50,000 by this summer - and a greater complexity in the conduct of operations, with major ongoing security efforts in Kandahar and central Helmand.

The new command structure will also enable a better alignment with Afghan National Army units, with 205 Corps continuing to work with Regional Command (South) [RC(S)] and 215 Corps partnered with the new Regional Command (South West).

The decision to divide responsibility between the two headquarters will help provide the best focus of command support for ISAF forces across the region.

Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Liam Fox, said:

"I welcome these changes to the command and control of our forces in Afghanistan which are based on sound military rationale and are in the interests of the overall coalition strategy and mission.

"Through their sheer professionalism, bravery and sacrifice, British forces have made real progress in Helmand. They will continue to do so working alongside Afghan, American and other ISAF partners making up an international effort of more than 45 nations."

Major General Gordon Messenger, the Chief of the Defence Staff's Strategic Communications Officer, said:

"This command and control change makes complete sense and is welcome. The span and complexity of the command challenge in southern Afghanistan has increased enormously in recent months and these changes provide the best command support to the troops on the ground.

"The change will also align the ISAF military structure in the south with the structure of the Afghan National Army, enabling a greater partnering capacity between ISAF and Afghan forces.

"The UK has been closely involved in the preparations for this change and entirely agrees with its rationale. We are well accustomed to operating within a multinational coalition command structure and are entirely content that the best interests of the UK force will be maintained under the new arrangements."

Looking to the future, Regional Command (South West) will operate under a rotational command, agreed in principle to be shared between US and UK forces. The first commander will be Major General Richard Mills of the US Marine Corps (USMC).


British troops talking with Afghan locals during a patrol through the village of Gorup-e Shesh Kalay

As part of the new arrangements, command and control boundaries will change within Helmand province.

Following the split, Task Force Helmand (TFH) will come under the command of the US Marine Corps' 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (1 MEF), under Major General Mills. TFH will retain responsibility for central Helmand.

Major General Richard Mills, Commanding General of 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), said:

"Regional Command (South West) will ensure that ISAF and Afghan forces in Helmand and Nimruz provinces achieve the objectives of Operation MOSHTARAK, which are intended to assert the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan's presence in the region.

"Since taking command six weeks ago I have been hugely impressed by the momentum and achievements of RC(S) under General Carter.

"My predecessors in the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and the British troops of Task Force Helmand have distinguished themselves in the service of the Afghan people. Real progress is being made.

"This will be the first time that the USMC has led an ISAF Regional Command. The British officers in my coalition headquarters and Task Force Helmand bring invaluable experience and knowledge. We are partnered with ANSF [Afghan National Security Forces] at all levels and conducting joint operations throughout Helmand province.

"While tough fighting remains, I see evidence daily of progress that will bring about lasting stability across southern Afghanistan.

"This will be a significant year for the future of Afghanistan. Coalition forces, alongside our Afghan counterparts, will continue to support the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan as it delivers legitimate governance, improved security and lasting economic development."

Additionally, under the changes, the command of the 1,100-strong British Battle Group based in Sangin and Kajaki will transfer from Task Force Helmand to the US-led Regimental Combat Team (North), which is taking on responsibility for the north of the province.

In common with the other changes to ISAF's command structures, this transfer of command will take effect on 1 June 2010 and is intended to optimise the command support available to the troops on the ground in light of the increased number of ISAF troops and other operational assets.

ISAF intends for Regional Command (South West) to become fully operational later this summer. In order to ease the transition, there will be an interim phase where 1 MEF will take responsibility for Helmand and Nimruz but will continue to work to Regional Command (South). This arrangement is planned to run from 1 June.

The UK-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in Helmand will work closely with the headquarters of Regional Command (South West) and will continue its vital role in delivering governance and socio-economic development in the province.

UK forces are committed to their enduring deployment to central Helmand and there are no plans to deploy UK forces from Helmand to anywhere else.

Liam Fox - we need to be in Afghanistan

New Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox has spoken about the national security reasons for the UK military being in Afghanistan and praised the bravery and professionalism of troops in Helmand.

Dr Fox was speaking on the BBC Radio 4 'The World This Weekend' programme yesterday. He said:

"When I took up this job last week, I immediately asked myself first of all, do we need to be in Afghanistan, and my answer was yes, for reasons of national security, because we don't want Afghanistan once again to be used as a safe haven for terrorists who could launch attacks against this country or others and we saw that before in 9/11."

Explaining his view of what success in Afghanistan is, Dr Fox said:

"Success means a stable enough Afghanistan, able to manage its own internal and external security without our involvement there.

"That means getting the Afghan National Security Forces up to strength, training them as quickly as we can so that they can carry out that role of their security and we can come home.

"General McChrystal, in his plans, always suggested that during the next 18 months or so, when we've seen the big American increase in troop numbers and we've seen the big increase in equipment there and we've seen the continuing activity against Al-Qaeda and related groups on the Pakistan border, we would get an idea of how achievable our mission is.

"So we've simply got in that period to give the full support to the coalition. Remember, it's a coalition of over 45 countries. We need to be ensuring that we are not territorial about what happens and that we do regard it as a global security mission."

Speaking about the role of UK troops in Helmand, Dr Fox said:

"I think that we should be having our forces deployed where they are going to have the greatest effect in terms of the overall strategy of the coalition and I don't think we should be precious about that.

"Our troops have done a wonderful job in Helmand, talking to American commanders there. They are extremely impressed now that they're on the ground in Helmand and seeing the difficulty of the conditions. They're very impressed about how bravely and professionally the British forces have operated."

New Secretary of State sends message to Defence staff

The new Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Liam Fox, has issued the following message to all Defence Staff.

The first duty of Government is to protect our way of life and provide security for our citizens. That is why I am proud and honoured to have been appointed as Defence Secretary by the Prime Minister David Cameron. I would like to pay tribute to my predecessor, Bob Ainsworth, who always had the best interests of the Armed Forces at heart.

Britain's Armed Forces are rightly respected both at home and abroad, and widely regarded as among the very best in the world. During my five years as Shadow Defence Secretary I have been privileged to see them at work in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

As a nation we have a responsibility to ensure they have our full support in return for the selfless service and sacrifice they are prepared to make in our name. The new Government will honour that duty with a new Tri-Service Covenant that will set out our obligations and commitments to the men and women of our Armed Forces, their families and veterans.

The campaign in Afghanistan is a national security imperative. We are there out of necessity not out of choice. I am determined that alongside our ISAF partners we will succeed. We will ensure that our Forces have the equipment and support they need to do what we ask of them.

Defence faces major challenges over the next few years. In today's uncertain world, it is essential that we maintain a highly dedicated and professional body of Servicemen and women with the capability to defend our national interests whenever they are called on to do so, and a strong cadre of professional defence civilians to undertake the distinctive tasks for which they are responsible.

A review of defence is long overdue but the needs of our Armed Forces can no longer be considered in isolation from other security challenges we face. We will be taking forward a Strategic Defence and Security Review, working with other Government department's including the new Foreign, Development and Home Secretaries as part of the new National Security Council.

Our aim must be to ensure that Britain's defence is based on a clear definition of our strategic interests, an assessment of our role in NATO and other partnerships, the threats we face, the military capabilities we need to protect our interests and the programmes we need to deliver those capabilities.

Resources will be tight for the country as a whole and Defence is no exception. We must make sure that we make every penny spent on Defence count. This means we will have to look again at all that we currently do, including the organisation and structure of the Department, each of the Services and the support area to ensure that we can undertake confidently and effectively the key tasks for which MOD is responsible.

We need to confront these issues head on and ensure that we emerge from the review with a clear way ahead for Defence that meets the needs of the current counter-insurgency campaign in Afghanistan but also ensures that we are well prepared for whatever the future may bring. I will set the work in hand straight away, to deliver before the end of the year.

I look forward to working with you all to tackle the challenges we face. With your support, I know we will do so successfully.

Dr Liam Fox appointed Secretary of State for Defence

Dr Liam Fox visiting British and Iraqi troops in Basra, Iraq, in September 2008

Dr Liam Fox has been appointed as the new Secretary of State for Defence today, Wednesday 12 May 2010.

Dr Fox has been the MP for Woodspring (renamed North Somerset for the 2010 May General Election) since 1992 and was appointed as Shadow Secretary of State for Defence in December 2005. He has visited the UK's Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Dr Fox was born and raised in East Kilbride, Scotland, and attended the local comprehensive school, St Bride's High School, before going on to study medicine at the University of Glasgow.

He worked as a GP before becoming a Member of Parliament and, as well as his career in the NHS, Dr Fox has also worked as a Civilian Army Medical Officer.

Dr Liam Fox visiting British and Iraqi troops in Basra, Iraq, in September 2008