Mike Jackson

“Intervention continues to be a prominent dimension of the post-cold war world.”

“The Russians are a very sentimental people.”

“Nations, not least America, retain full command of their national forces.”

“I understand all the problems for the Ministry of Defence, of course I do; working within a budget and trying to do so many things is not easy.”

“If you move between battalions, you are still within the same tribe.”

“Soldiering is a very important profession, is it not?”

“You cannot expect soldiers to change people's minds. That has to be done in other ways.”

“Well, the U.N. Security Council resolution 1973 is very clear. It says all necessary measures to be taken to protect civilians and civilian areas. I mean, that to me is very clear.”

“Missing your lunch is not exactly the end of the world.”

“Military operations cannot be tidy or free of friction - particularly in a coalition whose contributing nations see the campaign through national prisms.”

“It is absolutely bedrock to the British Army's philosophy that a commanding officer is responsible for what goes on within his command.”

“Everything starts and finishes with the soldier.”

“Not much over £1,000 a month for the private soldier on operations is hardly an impressive figure.”