U.K. General: Al-Qaida Can Never Be Defeated

Britain’s highest military officer is offering some wisdom: Al-Qaida can never be completely defeated—an admission that comes almost 10 years into the “war on terror.” The British general is calling for a military focus on containing enemy fighters and not annihilation. —JCL

Al-Jazeera English:

Britain’s most senior officer has been quoted as saying that al-Qaeda can never be completely defeated.

David Richards, chief of the defence staff, said on Sunday that outright victory is “unnecessary” as long as governments are able to contain the fighters.

“First of all, you have to ask: ‘Do we need to defeat it (al-Qaeda) in the sense of a clear cut victory?’” Richards told British newspaper the Sunday Telegraph.

“I would argue that it is unnecessary and would never be achieved ... but can we contain it to the point that our lives and our children’s lives are led securely? I think we can.”

Read more

AP / Kirsty Wigglesworth

Head of the British army, Gen. Sir David Richards.