Geoff Hoon Military Quotations

I emphasize again that this was a military request and has been considered and accepted on operational grounds after a thorough military evaluation by the chiefs of staff,

This work sets out how military arrangements for liaising with the civil authorities could be enhanced and how best to coordinate military assistance to them if requested.

What we are doing is ensuring that we have a range of military options available should they be required, ... This process does not lead inexorably to military action.

Can I emphasize that these judgments are made by highly experienced, highly professional military officers, ... This is not something in which politicians would seek to interfere.

After careful evaluation, the chiefs of staff have advised me that UK forces are able to undertake the proposed operation, that there is a compelling military operational justification for doing so and that it entails a militarily acceptable level of risk for UK forces,

European countries need to make more of a contribution in terms of defence capabilities. It is not fair?to keep turning to our ally in the United States to contribute military forces to problems which involve our own security.