THE CONTAINMENT OF CONFLICT
SECRET UK EYES A
31.
The containment of conflict should ideally encompass both its extent and its intensity. The preference is likely to be for the use of diplomatic pressure and the withholding of supplies when relevant, however military action could also be required. In practice such action is likely to be concentrated on establishing a cordon sanitaire, either around the disputing parties or between them. In national terms, the UK may become actively involved in this way on behalf of an
ally, helping to secure its borders against the spread of conflict from a third party, or it may be asked to assist them to control guerilla-type activity internally. British forces may also have to contain a conflict sufficiently to permit the evacuation of British citizens. Evacuation plans will be subject to evolutionary revision but changes in method are unlikely to be fundamental. While civil assets may predominate in SAE, appropriate military air or sea-lift will be necessary for SPE and the spread of modern weapon capabilities is likely to make such operations more hazardous, and to require the domination of wider areas around the point of embarkation. The scale of military commitment required is thus liable to increase.
32. The interposing of military units between disputing forces implies peacekeeping, which requires at least the tacit consent of all the parties concerned. Experience indicates that this will be best conducted under UN international
authority, since national or multinational forces serve differing perceptions and interests, and tend to complicate situations rather than ameliorate them. The current UN preference is to draw its main forces from nations seen as "uncommitted", so that UK assistance is likely to be sought in such fields as transport support, both long-range and in theatre, engineering and communications. Peacekeeping may
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UK EYES A SECRET
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