Hutton warns over Afghan withdrawal

Any attempt by Britain to "scuttle away" from Afghanistan before the mission there is complete would deal a "profoundly dangerous blow" to the UK in the fight against terrorism, Defence Secretary John Hutton has warned.

In his first major speech since his appointment last month, Mr Hutton said the premature withdrawal of British troops would send a signal of weakness around the world.

Speaking at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, he said the national security argument for a British military presence in Afghanistan was now even stronger than it was in 2001 after the 9/11 terror attacks.

"If walking away then would have damaged those interests, scuttling away now would deal them a profoundly dangerous blow," he said.

"In my view, our engagement is as much a security priority for the UK today as the world wars or the cold war of the last century.

"Terrorism is a constant threat, one that actually cannot be understated, wished away or appeased. It has to be confronted wherever and whenever it threatens our security here at home. That is why we have 8,000 troops in Afghanistan."

Mr Hutton acknowledged that the international forces face another "tough year" ahead, and that ultimate success in the campaign against the Taliban would require patience.

But for Britain to pull out now, he said, would have serious consequences both at home and abroad, enabling al Qaida to re-establish its training camps in the country. "The victims of that kind of defeatism would be the British people," he said. "We would have abandoned our ability to tackle terrorism at source and we would then have to deal with it here on our own streets, for that is where al Qaida would eventually manifest itself.

"I do not want to see British youngsters being indoctrinated into extremism in new al Qaida camps ruled by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Withdrawal would confirm al Qaida propaganda that Britain, like the Soviet Union before it, bombed and then bolted. We would be portrayed as wrong, callous or weak.

"The lessons our friends, vulnerable states, potential aggressors and terrorists would take is that contrary to our experience in the world wars, the Falklands and Northern Ireland, we would give up and go home. I believe very, very strongly we should never send such a message."