Philip Hammond: next war 'requires another 9/11 first'

[TonyGosling]

It will take another 9/11 for Britain to go to war abroad, says minister
Britain is war-weary and only “extreme circumstances” like the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks could persuade the public to support a major new foreign deployment, Philip Hammond says
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/10368311/It-will-take-a nother-911-for-Britain-to-go-to-war-abroad-says-minister.html

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond Photo: ANDREW CROWLEY FOR THE TELEGRAPH
James Kirkup By James Kirkup, Political Editor10:00PM BST 09 Oct 2013
Costly campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan have put voters off foreign wars, with the result that there will be no significant military operations “any time soon” the Defence Secretary said.
Once Britain’s mission in Afghanistan has drawn to a close next year, the Armed Forces will not be involved in major foreign deployments for many years, the minister told MPs.
“Public appetite for expeditionary warfare is pretty low, based on the experience of 10 years in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Mr Hammond said. “It would be realistic of me to say that I would not expect, except in the most extreme circumstances, a manifestation of great appetite for plunging into a prolonged period of expeditionary warfare any time soon.”
Mr Hammond compared Britain’s attitude with that of the US public following the Vietnam War, when America undertook a “clear disengagement” from international affairs. In August the Commons voted against military involvement in Syria.
The Afghan operation, which began in 2001 and has cost 444 British lives, will be wound up next year. Speaking to the Commons defence committee, Mr Hammond said it would take several years before politicians and military leaders could start to “rebuild” public support for military expeditions abroad.
However, he suggested that unexpected events could transform public opinion very quickly.
“We saw with 9/11 what a single event can do to change the tone,” he said.
The rise of powers such as China means that Britain’s economic future depends on a willingness to defend Western values of democracy and the rule of law, he added. “We are a nation more dependent than any other on an open global trading system. The survival of that system is not a given,” he said.
Whitehall officials are starting to consider the next Strategic Defence and Security Review in 2015, which will define Britain’s military ambitions for the rest of the decade. The Armed Forces have based their plans on the assumption that the defence budget will be spared additional cuts after the 2015 election, and more will be available for new equipment.
Mr Hammond said that if the next government failed to deliver that funding, the Forces would have to abandon entire military capabilities.

[fish5133]

Didnt seem to suggest that 7/7 was big enough to change the tone--
Now--who hates our freedoms? Chilling statements from Hammond.Has he been reading the PNAC document