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Britain tells US 'we cannot fight another Afghanistan'

 
 
 
 
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Liam Fox is welcomed to the Penagon by US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates

Britain has warned the United States that the military will not be able to fight another war like Afghanistan.

Liam Fox, the Defence Secretary, told his counterparts in the US that the Armed Forces would only be able to provide the manpower for medium-scale conflicts or for support in large conflicts where others took a greater part.

Dr Fox told said that the military could only deploy 6,000 troops to any one war zone, The Times reported. Around 10,000 are currently committed to Afghanistan. He reassured them that Britain’s nuclear deterrent would remain.

Dr Fox met Robert Gates, the US Defence Secretary, after his department warned the government that deep cuts in the Armed Forces could imperil the Special Relationship between the two countries.

The Strategic Defence and Security Review, which is already behind schedule, will reshape the nation’s defence strategy and could change Britain’s role in the world.

As the Treasury imposes cuts on almost every area of government spending, the annual £37billion defence budget could shrink by almost 20 per cent.

After the meeting, the minister told The Times: “We need to concentrate on where we think we can be best contributors as an ally to the US.”

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