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Cameron again defends sustainability of UK intervention in Libya

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, June 21. IRNA -- Prime Minister David Cameron Tuesday rebuked military chiefs for the second time in a week for raising concern about the sustainability of Britain's military intervention in Libya, insisting the UK's involvement was not under strain.

“Time is on our side, and not on the side of Libyan leader Muammer Gaddafi,' Cameron told domestic and foreign journalists at a press conference in London.

The British premier was questioned about the “huge demands” on equipment and personnel raised by Air Chief Marshal Simon Bryant due to involvement in Libya as well as the Afghan war after a similar warning was issued by navy chief Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope about the sustainability of the intervention.

'There are moments when I wake up and read the newspapers and think: 'I tell you what, you do the fighting and I'll do the talking',' Cameron said, rebuking the military leaders.

Bryant, second in command of the Royal Air Force, (RAF) warned that the “fighting spirit” of airmen was being undermined by an intense workload as many areas of the RAF were “running hot,” in a briefing paper published by the Daily Telegraph newspaper Tuesday.

“There is concern over the perceived lack of strategic direction which is restricting confidence in the senior leadership,” he said in the briefing notes to MPs in May.

RAF Typhoon and Tornado jets have flown more than 11,000 sorties since the art of the intervention, including carrying out 4,000 airstrikes, according to official government figures, while recently, Apache attack helicopters have also been deployed.