Foreign Affairs and Defence Spokesman: Menzies Campbell
CAMPBELL EXPRESSES SYMPATHY ON DEATHS OF BRITISH SERVICE MEN (23rd December 1998). Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesman Menzies Campbell MP expressed his sympathy on the deaths of the British Service men in Bosnia. Mr Campbell said, “This is a tragic reminder that British forces are engaged in hazardous and difficult missions all year round and that risks do not simply arise when military action is being taken. “Keeping the peace can be as hazardous as trying to contain dictators.”
CONTAINMENT AND DETERRENCE STRATEGY TOWARDS SADDAM HUSSEIN MUST CONTINUE (21st December 1998). People must remember that while Saddam Hussein has no regard for human life and his regime is based on terror, calls for his removal from office are militarily unrealistic and illegal under international law, according to Menzies Campbell MP, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs and Defence Spokesman. Mr Campbell, calling for the continuation of a strategy based on surveillance, containment and deterrence, said: “People are naturally anxious and concerned when military force is used, but they should remember that Saddam Hussein has no regard whatsoever for the value of human life. It is his policies which have done so much damage to Iraq and made the lives of his citizens intolerable. “Throughout his political life Saddam Hussein has used assassination as an instrument of terror, and has personally been responsible for murdering political opponents. “The present Iraqi regime is based on terror. He has used chemical weapons before, killing 5000 old men, women and children. He would not hesitate to use chemical or biological weapons to keep himself in power. “There can be no let up in efforts to compel him to implement the security council resolutions, but if UNSCOM cannot return to carry out its programme of inspection, the strategy will require to be based on surveillance, containment and deterrence. “The removal of Saddam Hussein cannot legitimately be an objective of British policy, even if it were feasible. To seek to have him removed would be to breach the same international law which the action against Iraq was designed to support. “Tory calls to remove Saddam are unrealistic and almost certainly illegal.”
THE RESPONSE TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S STATEMENT ON IRAQ (17th December 1998). Menzies Campbell MP, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs and Defence spokesman, responding to the Prime Minister’s statement on Iraq: “As the Prime Minister knows, he has Liberal Democrat support for the decision to deploy British forces against Saddam Hussein. “Does he agree that the need to use military force against Saddam Hussein is neither a cause for celebration or satisfaction but a painful necessity and a last resort when all other options have been exhausted? “Is it not the case that but for Saddam Hussein’s repeated defiance and deception, the issue of compliance with the UN resolutions relating to weapons of mass destruction could have been resolved a long time ago? “Does he understand that there are some of us who give him our support, but remain concerned to ensure that he uses all his endeavours to persuade the United States of the vital importance of being even handed throughout the Middle East? Does he also understand how important it is to minimise the risk of civilian casualties by the most stringent selection of targets?”
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