At Last, Some Common Sense! Lord Richards: 'We Need to Approach Muslim Extremism as We Might Approach World War Two'

Lord Richards of Herstmonceux is a former chief
of the Defence Staff

THE TELEGRAPH: Lord Richards said extremism is a "real threat" to the world, as he condemned dithering politicians too reluctant to lead the way

Britain must stop "sleepwalking" and prepare to tackle Muslim extremism as seriously as it planned for the Second World War, Lord Richards has warned.

Lord Richards of Herstmonceux, the former Chief of the Defence Staff, said extremism is a "real threat" to the world, as he condemned dithering politicians too reluctant to lead the way.

Warning a "hell of a lot of damage" is going to be wreaked by ISIS in the coming years, he argued the armed forces risk being left "on the back foot" by leaders who fail to plan properly.

"I think the problem is that we have not seen that we need to approach this issue of Muslim extremism as we might approach World War Two back in the 30s," he said.

"This is a real threat to us and we're sleepwalking in the way we're approaching it." » | Hannah Furness | Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Britain’s Military 'Not Good Enough' to Deal with Jihadi Threat, Warns Ex-defence Chief

Lord Richards asked in his maiden speech in the House of Lords:
'Are our armed forces in a fit state to play their role in dealing with
these and other risks to our way of life?'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Lord Richards of Hertsmonceux also calls for defence spending to increase as the economy starts to grow again and says that if plans to replace regular troops with part-time reserves must work soon or junked altogether.

Britain’s military is "not good enough” to deal with the global threat of Jihadis, according to a former head of the military.

Lord Richards of Hertsmonceux also called for defence spending to increase as the economy starts to grow again and said that if plans to replace regular troops with part-time reserves must work soon or junked altogether.

The comments from Lord Richards – who as General Sir David Richards was chief of the defence staff from October 2010 to July last year – will sound alarm bells in Whitehall.

In his maiden speech in the House of Lords on Monday evening the peer questioned whether Britain’s armed forces would be in a “fit state” to deal with threats from terrorists.

He said: “Are our armed forces in a fit state to play their role in dealing with these and other risks to our way of life? » | Christopher Hope, Senior Political Correspondent | Monday, June 23, 2014