I have described Afghanistan as 'a noble cause'. The United Kingdom has sent forces into that country under the authority of a UN resolution, at the request of a democratic, elected government, and ' with the support of the local people. We are there to ensure the country does not slip back under the control of the Taliban - an intolerant, brutal regime who oppose education, disregard the most basic human rights, and place no value on human life. We are there to make sure Afghanistan does not slide into civil war -after decades of conflict in which two million of its own people have died, and millions more have fled. If there is a chance to put a stop to this - however difficult - then there is a strong moral imperative to seize that chance.
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