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Musselburgh Grammar School. NATO, Terrorism and World Security Presentation 23 March 2007. Has UK been involved in any conflicts? If so, what, why, how and when? Is UK involved in major alliances? If so, which ones? What do they do? Do we really need them? Terrorism-how big a problem?
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Musselburgh Grammar School NATO, Terrorism and World Security Presentation 23 March 2007
Has UK been involved in any conflicts? If so, what, why, how and when? Is UK involved in major alliances? If so, which ones? What do they do? Do we really need them? Terrorism-how big a problem? What are governments doing to protect us? A few questions
UK has been involved in military operations in three continents in last ten years or so –but which? Europe Asia Africa North America South America Australasia Has UK been involved in any major conflicts in last ten years?
UK got involved twice in South East Europe 1995 and 1999 Soldiers and aircraft As member of international alliance 1. Europe
1. Europe • Break-up of Yugoslavia from 1989 • Vicious civil wars • Attempts at ethnic cleansing • UN involved since 1989 • UN peace keeping largely ineffective
EuropeJuly 1995-Srebinica Massacre • Bosnian Serbs expel Bosnian Muslims • One “solution” via Ethnic cleansing • Took over Bosnian Muslim Village • Murdered 8300 Bosnian Muslims • 400 UN troops there but couldn’t stop massacre
So UK got involved through NATO 1995 Bosnia- NATO Air Campaign - Dayton/ Treaty of Paris - IFOR/SFOR 1999 Kosovo- NATO Air Campaign - NATO Land based forces - KFOR 1. Europe
UK involved twice Afghanistan- 1) US-led force -end 2001, 2) With NATO – from 2003 Iraq- 1) US-led force in 2003 2) With NATO- training to Iraqi army and police 2. Asia
2. Asia-Afghanistan • Taliban regime provided training ground for terrorists • If not tackled, terrorists could continue to operate “freely • 2003 -United Nations asked NATO to lead an International Security Assistance Force • Initially involved 20,000 people from all 26 NATO members and 11 non-NATO nations
Objective is to help establish peace and security after many years of conflict 5 year plan between Afghan Government and International Community covering security, governance, and economic development Both military and civil support 2. Asia-Afghanistan
There are 50,700 troops there These come from 37 different countries, including all NATO members Includes soldiers from UK Major operation in Helmand province to deal with Taliban still ongoing 2. Asia-AfghanistanLatest position
Made it very difficult for Al Quaida to operate from Afghanistan Enabled economic and social progress Improved co-operation among allies 2.Asia-Afghanistan-Benefits/Achievements
USA claimed Iraq broken United Nations rules about weapons of mass destruction. USA/ UK failed to get Security Council support 20 March 2003- Invasion of Iraq began (about 250,000 from USA, 45,000 from UK) 9 April 2003- Fall of Baghdad 1 May 2003- Bush declared “end of major combat operations” 13 December, 2003 capture of Saddam Hussein 3.Asia-IraqInvasion -2003
3.Asia-IraqLatest position-2007 • About 90% of non- Iraqi soldiers are from USA ( 7/8,000-UK) • Iraqi Gov’t since 04 • Iraqi army doing more • Insurgency continues • Iraqi casualties-any where between 65,000 and 650,000…
Long-running civil war UN went in but failed to stop fighting Early 2000-1,000 UK troops went in to help evacuation of foreigners UK then helped UN, trained Government army, drove back and secured capital UK reduced commitment –training only 4. Africa-Sierra Leone
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) US- led alliances/coalitions in Iraq in 2003 and in Afghanistan in 2001 United Nations Is UK involved in major alliances?
NATO-What did they do? Protected West against Communist Threat • Washington Treaty-1949 • Collective defence • Article 5-Attack on one is attack on all • 12 Members initially • USA/Canada commit to Europe’s defence
1989/90-Ending of Cold War • Collapse of Soviet Union • End of Warsaw Pact • What happens next?
Small club-16 Members only Just covered West Europe Hardly spoke to non-members Cost a lot ( 8 million soldiers, 61,000 tanks and artillery pieces, 80 regional HQ’s) 1990-Did we really need NATO?
Need to settle problems in South East Europe: -NATO adapted to deal with peace-keeping and crisis management Need to build relationships especially with former enemies and neighbours: - North Atlantic Council/ Partnership for Peace - Mediterranean Dialogue So what happened then?
9.11.01 “Before S11... little political discussion on the nature of terrorism and on its implications for the Alliance’s concepts, policies, military structure and capabilities...” • Allies invoked art.5 • Attack against US is an attack against all • 8 initial measures to implement art.5 (4 October 2001)
Terrorist threats Afghanistan “Rogue states”- eg North Korea, Iran Nuclear proliferation Middle East Russia Note overlap between different factors Threats to global security or western security
Unique combination of factors: - global reach - capability - resilience - sophistication - ambition - lack of restraint What makes terrorism different post 9.11.2001
Uncompromising message from a group of “Muslim” radicals Their views: - “West represents threat to Islam” - “Loyalty to religion and loyalty to democratic institutions are incompatible” - “Violence is the only proper response” “New” Terrorists-What are key driving forces?
Changed terrorist landscape Showed Al Quaeda would attack : - on large scale/ reaching across world - with “high impact” - indifferent to mass casualties - using innovative methods What was so significant about 9.11?
Terrorists have “attacked” in New York, London, Madrid, Athens etc Numerous scares or rumours Terrorist groups in Middle East Look at scale of response in terms of government legislation and actions So how serious?
More resource for police and anti-terrorist groups(cash, kit and training) More co-operation between governments Guidance for companies/organisations (eg MI5 Website) Extra protection (eg airports, power stations,water ) Through United Nations- requiring members to act against terrorism Either working with or supporting NATO So what are Governments doing to protect us?
1. NATO-Protecting Shipping in Mediterranean • Active Endeavour • Strategic Objective: “...help deter, defend, disrupt and protect against terrorism...and demonstrate the Alliance’s determination in the campaign against terrorism...” • Partner involvement (Istanbul Summit – June 2004)
3. NATO-South East EuropeMaintaining peace • NATO HQs (Sarajevo, Skopje) • Kosovo – NATO-led International Force:17.000 troops from 35 NATO and non-NATO nations • Mission : To establish and Maintain a Secure Environment in Kosovo
Air: about 200 sorties per day Land component: brigade size Up to NATO Task Force 4. NATO - Response Force (NRF)to deal with potential crises NRF (total about 25.000) NRF
Crisis Response including Peacekeeping Peace Enforcement Counter Terrorism Operations Consequence Management including CBRN events and humanitarian crises Embargo operations: maritime, initial land, and no-fly zone Initial Entry Force…or enabling force Demonstrative Force Package Non-combatant Evacuation 5. NATO- NRF MISSIONS
Partnership for Peace NATO - Russia NATO - Ukraine Istanbul Cooperation Initiative Countries around Mediterranean NATO - EU: Strategic Partnership NATO – United Nations 6. NATO -Building Understanding/Cooperation
UK has been involved in several big international military operations in last 10 years UK acted mostly with NATO NATO has changed a lot since end of Cold War Dealing with Terrorism has been a priority for NATO since 2001 NATO is involved in 4 major missions NATO has the ability to respond quickly to new crises and to achieve cooperation through stronger relationships SUMMARY