I am glad that the hon. Gentleman agrees with me.
We have the new rising powers in the world that do not respect the rules of democracy, whereas at the same time the democratic world is leaderless. President Obama, whom I like and admire—he is in my political family—is not a strategic world leader. There is no European leader who is a strategic world leader. The Chinese know what they want, the Russians know what they want, and Iran and North Korea know what they want. Many of the so-called Islamic republics know what they want. However, do we know what we want?
That is why the debate is important—not just in terms of my constituency interests, or firing ranges in the Western Isles or the absolutely correct need to talk with trade unions and others in the industry, or to help our wounded soldiers when they come back, for which the hon. Member for Beckenham (Bob Stewart) so eloquently appealed. It is about a bigger strategic set of choices. We have to lift our horizons and think about the new threats not just to our country but to the wider set of values of ourselves and our allies. I hope that the Government—I wish them well—can rise to that challenge. If they cannot, the House must make them.
Strategic Defence and Security Review
Proceeding contribution from
Denis MacShane
(Labour)
in the House of Commons on Thursday, 16 September 2010.
It occurred during Backbench debate on Strategic Defence and Security Review.
Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
515 c1097-8 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
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Timestamp
2023-12-15 18:37:18 +0000
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