Richard Spring MP
Member of Parliament for West Suffolk

Well over 1000 people have been killed in the Somali capital Mogadishu this month, and 200 plus so far this week. The death toll continues to rise as chaos descends. There are 174,000 refugees in Kenya, which has now tightened its borders. Over 300,000 have fled and attempts to provide UN humanitarian aid have failed.

Many have fled by boat to Yemen; others have drowned or been thrown overboard on the way. Unlike its neighbours, as signatories of the 1951 Refugees Convention, Yemen is generously accepting thousands of Somalis, who are penniless and in many instances have health problems. It is a huge problem for a poor country. I saw this for myself just after Easter.

Earlier this week, 9 Chinese and 65 Ethiopian oil workers were killed in Ethiopia by a separatist group. It looks as if there could be a clear linkage between this and events in Mogadishu.

Last year, the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) seized control of much of southern Somalia, imposed Sharia law, and laid claim to part of Ethiopia. Allegations followed of al -Qaeda operatives basing themselves in Somalia, encouraging the formation of an Islamic state. The UIC had replaced the weak Transitional Federal Government (TFG).

So Ethiopia – without UN authority - invaded, in large measure to restore the previous government and banish the UIC. Like the United States, it is determined to prevent the spread of Islamist fundamentalism in Africa. However Ethiopia – substantially Christian – is hated in Somalia, and its troops, fighting the remnants of the Islamic militia, are part of the cause of the dying and mayhem. The largest local clan the Hawiye has joined in the resistance to the Ethiopian troops. Between 1960 and 1978 there were three wars between the two countries.

The Yemenis fear a major regional conflict. Eritrea is blamed for supporting the separatist group which killed the oil workers. It has also been accused of supporting the Somali Islamists, not because it shares their beliefs, but to hit their enemy Ethiopia, which in turn may retaliate, as in the past. The African Union has sent a limited number, but far too few troops, to seek to bring order. Many Yemenis feel that the chaos in Somalia will now actually precipitate Islamic terrorism, al- Qaeda links in particular.

So we have a real powder keg – death, suicide bombers, refugees, lack of food, foreign occupiers, warlords and Islamists, and the potential for a wider war. The British Government is alive to this and wants to broker a conference of all interested parties to try to thrash out some way forward. The aim would be to restore the TFG by separating more moderate individuals from opposition groups and negotiate with clan loyalists. It is a tall order. As Kofi Annan has observed, our clout in the world is now diminished, but at least others share our objectives, notably Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately each day that passes the problem becomes more difficult. In all of this there are echoes of the situation in Iraq, with the added threat of the conflict spreading to neighbouring countries.

And apart from the Somalis themselves, it is Yemen that is paying a very heavy humanitarian price indeed.

This article also appeared on the Conservative Home blog today: http://conservativehome.blogs.com/

For all of us who want to see stability in Iraq, we can only hope that the deployment of more US troops there will be successful.  A wounded and defensive United States is the last thing we in Britain need.

However, there is a clear recommendation of the Iraq Study Group that Mr Bush has ignored – trying to establish some sort of dialogue with Iran and with Syria.  With Iran this is fraught with difficulty, but with Syria it is different.  The United States is most unwise to treat the country with such hostility.  This is a secular State opposed to the religious fundamentalism which is enveloping Iraq.  They have even offered to normalise relations with Israel.

The Spanish, Germans and others are trying to engage with Syria.  Given – at minimum – our troop commitment in Iraq, should we not more assertively be doing the same?

Some believe it is the European Union that has kept the peace in Europe, others believe it is NATO. Of course there is a considerable overlap between the two in respect of members.

What surely is undisputable is that the European Union collectively suffers from much diminished authority in the world because many of its members will not spend money on defence. The NATO-led force in Afghanistan has brought this into sharp relief, where member states basically decline to put their troops into areas of high danger: Canadian, American and British troops are most at risk.

A number of European politicians who argue most passionately for a common European foreign and defence policy will not argue for additional defence expenditure in their own countries. The ambitious plans of some for a common defence policy have in practice cooled somewhat, but the rhetoric is still well ahead of the reality.

The one institution in our national life which remains so cherished and admired, and which is really so professional, is our armed forces. I make no broader point except to say that we have every right to keep our distance from the pan – European military dream machine when we see how pathetically some of our neighbours have been conducting themselves in Afghanistan. Let us take due note. 

I hugely enjoy my constituency and the events that take place there. One of those is Remembrance Sunday. Enjoyment is not the right word, but I greatly look forward to it. Of course the nation’s concentration tends to be on the service in Whitehall, but up and down the country in our cities, towns and villages there are services of commemoration too. Yesterday there were record crowds at the wreath-laying ceremonies. The Suffolk Regiment had a particularly terrible tour of duty in the Far East in the Second World War. The same local surnames read out from the roll of honour indicate the appalling tragedy of so many being killed from the same family in the First World War especially. It is incredible to think that my children’s great grandfather was the ninth son and thirteenth child, but inherited the family’s farm in Suffolk.

Today our troops are engaged in extremely harsh conditions in Iraq and Afghanistan. We think of them. We also remember with pride and humility those who went before them, to give us the extraordinarily open, free and tolerant country we live in. In 2006 we do not face an enemy as previous generations did, but disaffected fellow citizens who despise the very open, free and tolerant country we inhabit and the way of life we have chosen to lead.

In the end, it is imperative that these characteristics which so many fought and died for, are never ultimately compromised, whatever the pressures to do so may be. 

In my constituency there are two enormous USAF bases, at Mildenhall and Lakenheath. By and large, community relations are very good, despite the irritations that enhanced security measures have caused to local residents.

Some years ago I went up in a F15E fighter: we flew over Scotland. The flying kit was pretty uncomfortable and many people get sick during such flights. They provide you with a plastic bag just in case. Knowing this I ate nothing the night before, and had no breakfast. At the end of the flight (it was fantastic) there was a real look of disappointment on the face of the sergeant who had kitted me out. Subsequently the pilot, Bill de Maso, and his family came to the Commons, and we have remained in touch.

Similarly I went up in a KC135 to refuel the F15Es over the North Sea. Again it was magnificent boys’ own stuff.

The two bases have been there since WWII. Until a few years ago, veteran pilots of the Battle of Britain were beautifully entertained by our American friends each year at the base.

The Americans will maintain their presence in West Suffolk based upon strategic considerations. But meanwhile we all try hard to make them feel as welcome as possible. One day we may just need them again. 

The irrepressible Michael Ashcroft hosted a party last night in the Imperial War Museum, a perfect backdrop for the launch of his book on Victoria Cross heroes.   He has built up a unique collection of VC medals and admirably will be placing them in one accessible place in London.

In amongst the millions who have fought for this country over the years, has been a small group of British and Commonwealth servicemen who were accorded the highest possible recognition of their valour.   Yesterday evening was beautifully organised, and both memorable and humbling.

All our national institutions, from the Church to Parliament to the Royal Family, have been under sustained criticism in the past few decades.   The one national institution which is still held in the highest esteem is our armed forces.

No Prime Minister has in peace time deployed our service personnel as much as Tony Blair.   They are overstretched, undermanned, and without adequate equipment.   Service chiefs have warned that this situation is not sustainable.

Those who win the Victoria Cross have undertaken unique acts of bravery.   However, let us spare a thought today for our service personnel who are enduring so much in Afghanistan and Iraq in extremely difficult circumstances.  If there are indeed heroes in our contemporary society, it is certainly them.