Warnings UK & US Military Alliance 'At Risk' If Veterans Are Put Through Courts

Former American military chief, General David Petraeus, has warned putting British veterans through the courts in historical investigations could threaten the UK's military alliance with the United States.

The General made the comments at an event in Central London on Thursday, where a former colour sergeant gave a firsthand account of the devastating effects those investigations can have - even after being cleared of any wrongdoing.

Gen Petraeus, who commanded forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, said Britain's military capabilities could be "greatly diminished" if human rights laws cannot be balanced against the law of warfare.

"The very special relationship between our two militaries, which has been built over decades of serving shoulder-to-shoulder in the hardest tests of battle, could be put at risk by the present situation," he said.

He added that an "overly expansive interpretation" of the European Convention of Human Rights could place the UK in an "untenable position" where its forces' combat ability is limited because they are operating under different laws.

"The UK's armed forces are, of course, among the most accomplished and capable in the world, recent reductions in their numbers notwithstanding," he continued.

"But Britain's considerable fighting capacity will be greatly diminished if it cannot reform the legal framework within which it fights, restoring the primacy of the law of armed conflict."

His comments come as debates continue over investigations into allegations of crimes including murder against veterans of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, as well as those who served in conflicts in the post 9/11 wars.

Gen Petraeus told the event for the centre-right Policy Exchange think tank in Westminster that the historic Northern Ireland investigations were "relentless and seemingly unending".

He was joined by Conservative MP and former Army officer Johnny Mercer, who was under the general's command in Afghanistan, and former chief of the naval staff Lord West of Spithead.

Labour peer Lord West disagreed with Gen Petraeus that recruitment was being hampered by the current situation, but said retention of personnel and their morale has been damaged.

"It is outrageous that we shouldn't look after our people - that should be the absolute driving thing," he said.

But, he added, if personnel fall foul of the Geneva Convention, they "should be hammered".