Global Issues: Terrorism and Conflict ~ Gen Richards: “al-Qaeda cannot be defeated”

The West can only contain, but not defeat militant groups such as al-Qaeda, the head of the UK’s armed forces has said. General Sir David Richards told the Andrew Marr Show that Islamism was an idea, and you can’t defeat an idea. However he argued it could be “contained”.

The Sunday papers had a few related articles,:

Britain’s top soldier says al-Qaeda cannot be beaten - General Sir David Richards interview , The Sunday Telegraph The general said: “In conventional war, defeat and victory is very clear cut and is symbolised by troops marching into another nation’s capital. First of all you have to ask: do we need to defeat it [Islamist militancy] in the sense of a clear cut victory? I would argue that it is unnecessary and would never be achieved. “But can we contain it to the point that our lives and our children’s lives are led securely? I think we can.”

The Daily Mail: Sir David Richards: ‘The West will never win against Al Qaeda’General Sir David Richards said the national security of Britain was still at stake, but the threat can be contained to allow Britons to lead secure lives.