PM defends Afghanistan policy in al-Qaeda warning

Published on 16/11/2009 00:48

GORDON Brown will today mount a strong defence of Britain's military mission in Afghanistan, warning that the al-Qaeda terror network poses the single biggest threat to UK national security.

The Prime Minister's speech comes after the death yesterday of the 96th British soldier to be killed in Afghanistan this year.

The soldier from 7th Battalion The Rifles was shot while on foot patrol near Sangin in Helmand province.

Mr Brown will tell an audience in London that "vigilance in defence of national security will never be sacrificed to expediency". He will add: "Necessary resolution will never succumb to appeasement. The greater international good will never be subordinated to the mood of the passing moment.

"So I vigorously defend our action in Afghanistan and Pakistan because al-Qaeda is today the biggest source of threat to our national security – and to the security of people's lives in Britain."

The comments in his annual Guildhall foreign policy speech mark the latest stage in his drive to shore up public support for the war, following a speech to military top brass and an address to the Commons.