first defence seminar

Wednesday, 9^th November
General Sir Rupert Smith

“The Utility of Force”

Committee Room 6
House of Commons 18.30 – 20.00

Why do we use military force to solve our political problems? And why do our forces win the military battles but this still fails to solve these problems?

From Iraq to the Balkans, and from Afghanistan to Chechenya, over the past fifteen years there has been a steady stream of military interventions that have not delivered their promise for peace, or even political resolution.

Why not? What is this anomaly at the heart of the international system? Can force only work if it has utility? Where should we go from here? These are challenging times for the military who are being seen by many as an instrument of a foreign policy with which they do not agree, and public support for their efforts increasingly goes unacknowledged.

first defence is delighted to host General Sir Rupert Smith and we look forward to hearing a bold new vision of the role of the armed forces in resolving conflicts and confrontations.

General Sir Rupert Smith retired from the British Army in 2002. His last appointment was as Deputy Supreme Commander Allied Powers Europe 1998–2001 covering NATO’s Balkan Operations, including the Kosovo bombing, and the development of the European Defence and Security Identity. Prior to that he was the general Officer Commanding in Northern Ireland, 1996– 998; Commander UNPROFOR in Sarajevo, 1995; the Assistant Chief of Defence Staff Operations, 1992-1994; and General Officer Commanding 1(UK) Armoured Division, 1990-1992, including the Gulf War.