http://www.the-times.co.uk/ May 5 2000 POLITICS & GOVERNMENT Commons adjournment debate: Defence in the world Serbia and Iraq ' in dangerous new alliance' BY MELISSA KITE A DANGEROUS alliance is emerging between the "pariah" states of Serbia and Iraq, the Tories said yesterday. Ian Duncan Smith, Shadow Defence Secretary, told MPs that the two countries were exchanging information about nuclear weapons and developing ties of friendship. The danger was intensified by the fact that Serbia had 1,056lb of weapons-grade uranium and the only thing Iraq lacked to make nuclear weapons was enriched uranium, he said. "There are exchanges now between those two nations," the MP added. "The inspectors in Iraq recognise that even while they were there, Iraqis were happily gathering enough information and capability to create and produce weapons of mass destruction." In a Commons debate on defence strategy, Mr Duncan Smith said that the Government's strategic defence review contained "fundamental flaws". He said: "The review was, in the end, Treasury-driven and became a cost-cutting exercise. The result has been a problem of overstretch and a crisis of retention." He also demanded to know why Europe needed its own army when it had Nato. "The big question is why in heaven's name have we embarked on this in the first place if it's already available and capable of being done within Nato? What are we doing this for?" Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, denied that increasing the effectiveness of European defence would lead to creation of a "European army". He hailed the Government's policy of "defence diplomacy", using military assets to build and promote stability and democracy through training and advice. "We benefit in this country from stable democracy, good government and strong economic development," he said. "It is in our interests to see this stability established more widely, but we also have a wider responsibility to those in less fortunate circumstances to help secure peace and democracy, to ensure wherever we are able the furtherance of basic human rights." The Government's determination to act in times of crisis was proved by this year's �22.8 billion defence budget, he said. The Defence Secretary denied that the presence of British Army training officers in Zimbabwe was sending out the wrong signals to the country's Government and people. "British Forces in Zimbabwe are there as part of a training force for southern Africa. Their responsibilities extend beyond Zimbabwe." He conceded that there were some "obvious" equipment difficulties dogging the Armed Forces, such as the problems with the SA80 infantry rifle, but said that they had to be kept in perspective. On recent reports about Lynx helicopter rotor hubs, he said: "Yes, there is a safety problem; yes it has affected the availability of some aircraft, but it has not stopped us meeting key operational tasks." Donald Anderson (Lab, Swansea E), chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said that the Government would soon face a "real dilemma" over the US Congress's determination to create a scaled-down version of the "Star Wars" anti-ballistic missile defence programme. Sir John Stanley (C, Tonbridge and Malling), former Armed Forces Minister, said that the Forces were hugely overstretched. Sir John said: "The amber light is flashing in terms of defence capabilities at the moment." "Those who cast the votes decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything." Communist Tyrant Josef Stalin (Listen anytime to Votefraud vs Honest Elections "crash course" radio show over the internet at www.sightings.com in the archives, April 3rd, 2000 show, Jeff Rense host, Jim Condit Jr. guest)
