6 The situation in Iraq and and the response to al-Dawla al-Islamiya fi al-Iraq al-Sham (DAESH) These roles are consistent with the scale of the £38 billion defence budget, commensurate with our global presence, the expectations of Iraq and the Kurdistan region of Iraq, our status as a P5 member of the Security Council, and our traditionally close relationship to the United States. Failure to engage more closely would raise significant questions about the UK’s ambitions and global role. Such activities would require only the deployment of a few hundred personnel, the cost would be relatively modest, and it would not entail the risks inherent in deploying to UK troops in combat roles. Whilst we’re conscious this would be an enduring commitment, extending over decades, given the extreme nature of the threat, and the importance that the UK Government attaches to resolving it, it seems very surprising that the UK Government is doing so little.
6 The situation in Iraq and and the response to al-Dawla al-Islamiya fi al-Iraq al-Sham (DAESH) These roles are consistent with the scale of the £38 billion defence budget, commensurate with our global presence, the expectations of Iraq and the Kurdistan region of Iraq, our status as a P5 member of the Security Council, and our traditionally close relationship to the United States. Failure to engage more closely would raise significant questions about the UK’s ambitions and global role. Such activities would require only the deployment of a few hundred personnel, the cost would be relatively modest, and it would not entail the risks inherent in deploying to UK troops in combat roles. Whilst we’re conscious this would be an enduring commitment, extending over decades, given the extreme nature of the threat, and the importance that the UK Government attaches to resolving it, it seems very surprising that the UK Government is doing so little.
the-situation-in-iraq-and-syria-daesh.docx