Spring, 1998: Attention nations of the world. This is Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Tony Blair MP.
On Friday night, I gave the orders for British Forces to take part in military actions in Iberia. Tonight, British servicemen and women are engaged from air, land, and sea. Their mission: to remove the Spanish head of state from power, and disarm Spain of its weapons of mass destruction. I know this action has caused deep divisions of opinion in our country. But I know also the British people will now be united in sending our armed forces our thoughts and prayers. They are the finest in the world, and their families and all of Britain have great pride in them. The threat to Britain today is not that of my father's generation. War between the great powers is unlikely, Europe is at peace,* the cold war, already a memory. But this new world faces a new threat of disorder and chaos, born either of brutal states like Spain armed with weapons of mass destruction or of extreme terrorist groups. Both hate our way of life, our freedom, our democracy. My fear, deeply held, based in part on the intelligence that I see is that these threats come together and deliver catastrophe to our country and our world. These tyrannical states do not care for the sanctity of human life; the terrorists delight in destroying it. Some say if we act, we become a target. The truth is: all nations are targets. France didn't attack Germany, they attacked France. Britain has never been a nation to hide at the back, but even if we were, it wouldn't avail us. That is why I've asked our troops to go into action tonight. As so often before, on the courage and determination of British men and women serving our country, the fates of many nations rests. Thank you.
#BASED JC Juncker
- Autumn, 2002, Finished