John Reid
John Reid
armed both countries exercises forces increase india joint number pride relationship serve strengthen themselves training uk
The armed forces of both India and the UK pride themselves on excellence, and the increase in the number of joint exercises and training opportunities between the two countries will only serve to strengthen that relationship further,
attempts certain course despite destroy forces including iraqi next places process relatively saying terrorist
We are not saying that everyone will be out by the end of 2006 but we are saying that this process - despite the terrorist attempts to destroy it - is going relatively well, and, in the course of the next year, we could well see the handover to Iraqi forces at certain places in Iraq, including in our own area,
based forces local plain
We have always made plain that any withdrawal of forces will be based on local conditions, not some immutable timetable,
active additional currently discussing forces nato north operating send taliban troops
But the Taliban are still active in the area, so are drug traffickers, ... NATO must send more troops than are currently operating in the north today. We are discussing with NATO what those additional forces should be.
british details forces handed law people threats whether
We don't actually know the details of why these people were handed over - whether it was under threats or by collusion, or whatever, ... What we do know is that under the law they should have been handed back to the British forces themselves.
bases closure fewer forces iraqi present reflecting security small structural tasks training transfer
This is about 500 fewer than at present, reflecting the closure of two small bases in Basra, the transfer of some training tasks to the Iraqi security forces and structural differences between the two brigades,
based decision forces local mean
Any withdrawal of forces will be based on local conditions, not some immutable timetable, ... This will mean a transition, a process, not a peremptory decision or a one-off event.
british confirm detained division earlier forces iraqi personnel police released service today
I can confirm that the two British service personnel detained earlier today by the Iraqi Police Service have now been released and are back with British forces in Multi-National Division (South East),
armed equipment forces greater numbers role sure
I want to make sure if our armed forces are going to play a greater role in the world than previously that we give them the welfare, the numbers and the equipment that they need.
ask believe best condemn fighting force imagine quicker slower understand
I ask that we try to imagine what it must be like on the battlefield, so we may be a little slower to condemn and a lot quicker to understand what I believe is the best fighting force in the world.
elsewhere people public relations response
I was asked, what was my response to those people who said that what was going on at Heathrow and elsewhere was all part of a public relations exercise, a spin,
decided improved time
It hadn't improved so we decided to give him time off.
avoid casualties innocent matter trying
It is not a matter of casualties, but a matter of trying to avoid innocent casualties of terrorism.
happen overnight
It isn't something that will happen overnight and without discussion,