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Conservative Party on Foreign and Defence Policy
David Cameron: "We not only support our Forces in Afghanistan. We also support the reason they are in Afghanistan...One option, favoured by some, is an immediate withdrawal. I do not believe this would be in our interests."
Liam Fox: "Afghanistan must be, and will be, our military's main effort under a future Conservative Government."
Dr. Liam Fox has said that British Forces cannot be allowed to fail in Afghanistan. Conservatives would be "sympathetic" to an increase in the number of soldiers.
David Cameron: "The key here is, as soon as you can hand over lead responsibility to the Afghans in a district you should do, once it's safe. And once you're doing that you can bring down troop numbers in the future, but do it based on success, don't keep talking about artificial timelines."
Mr. Cameron told the BBC: "I don't want us to raise false hopes. I think it's pretty unlikely that you are going to see a reduction in British troop numbers next year (in afghanistan). But it should be based on success."
Liam Fox: "To abandon our deterrent in a world where countries such as North Korea and Iran are developing nuclear weapons would be utter madness. A Conservative government will not leave Britain open to nuclear blackmail in a dangerous and uncertain world. We have repeatedly said that we believe in Britain's independent nuclear deterrent, and that a submarine-based system is the best available."
"And we are committed to maintaining the UK's nuclear deterrent."
"...the Tories support it (Trident Programme renewal) but admit it will have to be reviewed because of soaring public debt."
The Conservatives back Trident renewal...The Tories have long supported Trident renewal but are currently reviewing all their spending commitments and say all programmes will be considered in a strategic defence review if they win the next election.
"No defence cuts, say New Tories."
Liam Fox: "A Conservative Government would undertake a proper review of our defence needs."
"We believe there is considerable scope for the better allocation of resources from within the existing defence budgets...Cracking down on Government waste would provide the necessary resources to fund the recommendations that we set out."
Liam Fox: "...what makes any relationship special is trust. Britain and America trust one another because we look at the world in the same way. We share the same roots, nourish the same aspirations, thrill to the same ideals. The challenge now is to turn that commonality of views and interests into a common strategy for our defence."
Liam Fox: "The question which Britain’s American friends should honestly ask themselves is whether the Special Relationship is robust enough to continue. It certainly deserves to do so."