We in the west walked away from Afghanistan at the end of the cold war and left it as a country devastated socially and armed to the teeth. If we do that again there will be consequences. Bob Ainsworth More Quotes by Bob Ainsworth More Quotes From Bob Ainsworth Growing up, I was always in the kitchen. Even in third grade, I made cooking videos called 'The Little Italian.' Very little production value, but it was good. Bob Ainsworth growing-up italian cooking Failure in Afghanistan would have profound consequences for our national security. It would undermine the NATO alliance structure that has been the bedrock of Britain's defence for the last 60 years... I will not allow this to happen on my watch. Bob Ainsworth profound watches years I got a tooth bust by somebody who decided they didn't like me and I thought the moustache hid a scar on my lip. It's true that people were told facial hair was not appreciated by the British public, but I just decided to keep the moustache. Bob Ainsworth teeth hair people My heroes are the non-commissioned officers. If I had another life thats what Id be - a regimental sergeant major or a similar rank. Thats where the spirit of the armed forces is. Bob Ainsworth another-life spirit hero I never expected to be Defence Secretary. It's a great privilege. Bob Ainsworth defence privilege expected I come from a pretty tough background and I learned a long time ago not to be bothered. Bob Ainsworth backgrounds tough long The last thing we want to do is to go into an area and inflict unnecessary civilian casualties. One is too many. Bob Ainsworth too last go want I have strengths, and I have weaknesses. I don't pretend to be able to write a great thesis or doctorate - I have no pretensions in that direction. Bob Ainsworth direction pretend great thesis Our aim is always to minimise casualties and to separate a hardline Taliban from those who have been caught up in the insurgency. Bob Ainsworth who up always aim If you stand at an election and put a manifesto in front of people saying you're going to improve health care, you have to stick by that. Bob Ainsworth you election health people We need a leader able to project his or her personality and present our policies in today's media environment. All this is true - but we also need a leader capable of building a team, inspiring loyalty from colleagues, and one genuinely open to ideas. Bob Ainsworth colleagues loyalty personality today It's hard to find good teamwork in practice, and I have never thought that we, as a party, were any better at working as a team than the Tories, despite our core values. Bob Ainsworth good team teamwork practice Stalin's policies pushed the world into the Cold War. Putin has the potential to be equally as dangerous. Bob Ainsworth cold dangerous war world We have tended in politics in this country to concentrate on the domestic, on the here and now - the 'what's in it for me'. Bob Ainsworth now me politics country I'll tell you what I do have: I have a good feel for ordinary people, for politics, and those are my strengths. I understand, I hope instinctively, where many of our Armed Forces come from. Bob Ainsworth good you politics hope Defence must be more adaptable, able to respond quickly to the changes in the security environment and the character of conflict. Bob Ainsworth more conflict environment character I was Minister for the Armed Forces in the Ministry of Defence for two years prior to being appointed Defence Secretary. Bob Ainsworth being armed-forces two years I have always had a keen interest in defence and military history and read more on this subject than anything else. Bob Ainsworth more always military history As the Chief of the Defence Staff says, you don't defend on the goal line. Defending the interests of the U.K. means tackling threats early and at source, and that means intervening overseas. Bob Ainsworth early you defence goal I am extremely honoured to be the Defence Secretary, and I would not do the job if I did not think that I could make a useful contribution in the role. Bob Ainsworth i-am job think contribution
