Blair -Why it's vital for Britain to tackle terror

Tackling terror chief Osama bin Laden and his allies is vital to Britain’s self-interest, Tony Blair argued tonight.

The Prime Minister spelt out the practical as well as moral case to send British troops into action in an article for the News of the World.

He wrote: ‘‘If we failed to act the risk is simple and direct: more British lives lost through terrorism.’’

But the international crisis would not prevent the Government delivering all it had promised during the election, he said.

‘‘I never forget why we were re-elected: to deliver economic stability, tackle crime and get better public services, schools and hospitals first,’’ he wrote.

‘‘My focus and that of the Cabinet is always on that.’’

But it was also in the interests of everyone living in the UK that bin Laden and the Taliban regime sheltering him should be taken on.

The number of Britons murdered in the September 11 atrocity far outstripped even those killed over Northern Ireland, he said.

And the UK could be the next target of the terror machine that carried out the US attacks, according to Mr Blair.

‘‘Whilst there is no specific threat we are aware of against us, those who carried out the atrocities have issued general threats against the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia virtually anywhere that doesn’t share their fanaticism,’’ Mr Blair said.

‘‘Attacks in the past, in Europe at least, have been thwarted by our security forces. But in the end, real success will only come from eradicating the network of terror behind the September 11 attacks.’’

The US attacks had hit the British and other economies around the globe, Mr Blair said.

‘‘Dealing with bin Laden is essential to that too,’’ he said.

And bin Laden and his henchman already blighted countless lives across the country through their involvement in the drugs trade, with 90% of heroin sold in Britain coming from Afghanistan, he said.

‘‘For years, despite all our efforts, it has not been possible to get the international agreement needed to tackle this problem in Afghanistan properly. That agreement is now there. It is time to use it,’’ he added.

Britain and many other countries were already looking after refugees from the war-torn state and those numbers would only increase unless stability was brought to Afghanistan, Mr Blair said.

And instability in the state which acts as a buffer between the nuclear rivals India and Pakistan posed further dangers.

The diplomatic marathon he tonight completed - stopping off in Moscow before visiting the two rival nations - should not be ‘‘boxed off as part of a Prime Minister’s international duties’’, Mr Blair said.

‘‘There are very important reason for Britain, British security, the British economy, British jobs and prosperity, why we have to take a leading part in sorting the situation out,’’ he said.

And he ended by saying: ‘‘It is precisely because I am Prime Minister of the UK first and last that I am so determined to do all we can to root out those responsible for the September 11 attacks, to eradicate the network of terror behind them and to help Afghanistan and the region become more stable.’’