Global Strategy Forum
Charles Farr
Director General of the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism at the Home Office
Charles Farr, Director General of the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism at the Home Office, was our July guest lecturer. Addressing the question, 'Counter Terrorism Strategy in the UK: Are We Winning?', he outlined the nature and structure of the security threat facing the UK, but pointed out that the lack of any structure is part of the threat. In answer to the question, he recognized that there had been success in disrupting the threat and preventing loss of life through terrorist attacks, but he was less optimistic about the extent to which the threat had been removed or reduced. This event took place under the Chatham House Rule and thus there is no transcript available.
General Sir Richard Dannatt GCB CBE MC
Chief of the General Staff 2006-2009
General Sir Richard Dannatt gave our second February lecture, speaking on the theme of the Challenges for Defence in the Next Decade. Referring to the fact that much had changed in the world since the last Strategic Defence Review in 1998, he said that we were now at a strategic crossroads, which required an extensive review of our place in the world. He said that the debate which the SDR framed should be policy-led and not financially-driven, but that careful calibration would be required to maintain a broad range of capabilities to the extent that is affordable. He advocated a move to a quadrennial or quinquennial system of Strategic Defence Reviews, which would provide a stable framework within which these fundamental issues could be addressed. In reference to Operation Moshtarak and the future for Afghanistan, he said that ‘tomorrow would be a very uncertain place if we do not succeed [in Afghanistan] today’ but he pointed to the need to place the operation in Afghanistan on a proper warlike footing. He concluded by paying tribute to the outstanding commitment and capability of the young men and women of the armed forces and said that the ‘challenge for policymakers over the next few months [was] to ensure that those same people can go on making the same kind of commitment in the best interests of the nation in the next decade and beyond.’
Lecture - 10th February 2009
Rt Hon the Lord Robertson of Port Ellen
Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, Secretary-General of NATO from 1999-2004, was our guest lecturer in February. In answer to the question, 'Does NATO have a future?', he believed that it did, but that its future depended on collective political willpower, concluding: 'I believe [NATO] has a future. Of course it has a future - if it does not have a future, we will not have a future either. But we have got to want it to have a future and we have got to be able to give it the right resources and the political support to make sure that it can do the job that we all know it needs to do in the future.'
Dr Liam Fox MP
Shadow Defence Secretary
The Shadow Defence Secretary, Dr Liam Fox MP, addressed Global Strategy Forum on Tuesday 14th October. His lecture, entitled 'General Overview of Conservative Defence Policy', did just that and provided a comprehensive outline of what a future Conservative defence policy might look like, although Dr Fox refused to be drawn on whether a Conservative Government would increase defence spending.
Conservative Conference Event (Allegro Suite, Hyatt Regency)
Sunday 28th September 12.30-2pm
The audio transcript of the GSF event at the Conservative Party Conference entitled: 'Might 12,000 nuclear weapons be more than we need? The case for multilateral nuclear disarmament', at which the Rt Hon Michael Ancram QC MP and Sir Malcolm Rifkind QC MP spoke, is now available. Please click on the link above.
Professor Michael Clarke
Director of RUSI
In a fascinating lecture, Professor Clarke analysed the new environment in which British security policy must be formulated. He believes that we are presently in a transitional period between two international systems: the old security architecture of the Cold War world is no longer fit for purpose, yet the new international system is far less favourable to Britain's interests - the dominance of the 'anglo-sphere' is waning. In his view, the major challenge we face is working out how to be 'an actor who can cope with globalisation' in order to play to our strengths and to navigate successfully this new security landscape.
General Mike Jackson
Guest Speaker
General Mike Jackson delivered his thoughts to a packed room. He ranged far and wide in terms of geography and topic, doing justice to both. His views on what sort of military we want/need are well worth listening to. This event was chaired by the Rt Hon John Spellar MP.
Lord (Tim) Garden
Guest Chair - Trident Debate of 27th February 2007
With Lord (Tim) Garden in the Chair and flanked by panellists Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP, Frank Field MP and Michael Ancram MP this was always going to be an interesting debate. Extra spice was was added in the form of General Sir Mike Jackson and Kate Hudson (Chair of CND) posing questions from the floor. [Apologies for the decrease in sound quality during the Q&A session, which was saved by Lord Garden summing up the questions before putting them to the panel.]
Kate Hudson
Chair of Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Kate Hudson, Chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament attended the Forum's debate 'Trident - extend, replace or scrap?' on 27th February 2007 and took part in the Question & Answer session.
General the Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank GCB LVO OBE
Guest Speaker
From 1997 to 2001 General Charles Guthrie served as Chief of the Defence Staff. In this Lecture he expresses his dismay that problems concerning funding and the supply of vital equipment are still on-going. Now Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank he still remains in touch with the rank and file, especially the Special Air Service Regiments, of which he is Colonel Commandant.
Michael Ancram PC DL QC
Chairman - Global Strategy Forum
The Forum's inaugural Lunchtime Lecture was given by the Chairman, Michael Ancram QC MP. This hard-hitting, factual and very comprehensive lecture was supported by two former Chiefs of the Defence Staff - Lord Guthrie and Field Marshal Lord Inge - and their comments are reported below Michael's text.
Michael Ancram PC DL QC
Chairman - Global Strategy Forum
This is the full pamphlet upon which Michael Ancram based his GSF 9th May 2006 Lecture, and includes a Foreword by Lord Guthrie (Chief of the Defence Staff 1997 - 2001). If printing off please bear in mind that this document is set on A5 size paper. You may need to set your printer accordingly.
