UK National Security Strategy: 100 days old

by | Jun 27, 2008 | UK

(Updated 26 July 2008)

By my estimation the UK’s national security strategy is 100 days old. So what initiatives from the UK NSS have gained traction? What ideas have been quietly dropped? And what proposals are still hanging around in the ether?

In his statement to the House of Commons Gordon Brown listed the following:

1. The publication of first a ever cross-departmental strategy for supporting service personnel, their families and veterans. To be published in mid/ late July (my guess Thursday 17th July)

2. Increase the the number of security service personnel by 4000. Ongoing but growth constrained by training capacity

3. A 10 per cent increase in resources for the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre To be confirmed – relatively easy to do.

4. Set aside funds to modernise GCHQ’s interception capability. To be confirmed

5. Publication of a national register of risks.  Published soon

6. The creation of a National Security Forum. NSF will be a NDPB. See here for details

7. Introduction of a resolution in both Houses that enshrines an enhanced scrutiny and public role for the Intelligence and Security Committee. No obvious sighting – to be confirmed

8 & 9. A new bargain to non-nuclear powers and an international conference on the related issues later this year. No news – unless conference was this one (which I don’ think it was)

10. The creation of a standby international civilian capability for fragile and failing states (Brown commits 1000-strong UK civilians including police, emergency service professionals, judges and trainers). No news

11. Between now and 2011 £600 million for conflict prevention, resolution and stabilisation work around the world, including in Israel and Palestine, Darfur, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq and Afghanistan, Kenya and the Balkans. Not new money but I think a repeat announcement from last year’s Comprehensive Spending Review.

12. Britain to pay for 850 Burundian troops as part of the African Union peacekeeping force. Confirmed

13. Creation of an integrated civilian-military headquarters headed by a civilian in Helmand. To be confirmed

14. 30 per cent Increase in Foreign Office staff to Middle East and South Asia. Ongoing

15. Creation of a UK wide civil protection force. (Initiative seems to have been dropped)

If I have missed any initiatives out/ or you know things have changed please post a comment.

It’s official – Mandela soon not to be a terrorist

by | Jun 27, 2008 | North America

You couldn’t make this stuff up:

Sens. John Kerry, Bob Corker, and Sheldon Whitehouse today announced the passage of their legislation to remove former South African President Nelson Mandela from the terror watch list. The bill grants the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, the authority to waive U.S. travel restrictions on President Mandela and other members of the African National Congress (ANC.)

Mandela and his fellow ANC members remain on the list for activities they conducted against South Africa’s apartheid regime decades ago. The senators hope the passage of this legislation will end this embarrassing impediment to improving U.S.-South Africa relations.

“In recognition of his ninetieth birthday this summer, Nelson Mandela is again honored as one of the world’s strongest voices for human dignity and courage in the face of oppression. Today the United States moved closer at last to removing the great shame of dishonoring this great leader by including him on our government’s terror watch list,” said Kerry.

That’s right – Condi will now be allowed to consider deeming Mandela unlikely to blow up US citizens…

[Via Ezra Klein]