Military operations

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on military operations. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

Date	Description
10.06.2013	In brief: Iraq abuse judgment of May 2013
24.05.2013	In brief: UK withdrawal from Afghanistan
	The drawdown of British troops in Afghanistan has begun. The number of British troops in Afghanistan will be reduced to 5,200 by the end of 2013.
23.04.2013	In Brief: International Military Forces in Mali
	As offensive military operations in the country have begun to wind down concerns remain that Malian and foreign forces will now face a protracted insurgency from Islamic militants who have continued to conduct counter-attacks from the north of the country.
15.02.2013	Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones): an introduction
	This note provides an introduction to the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) by the UK Armed Forces, more commonly known as drones.
18.01.2013	Chilcot Inquiry: an update
	The Iraq Inquiry, chaired by Sir John Chilcot, was originally expected to have reported by now but the broad scope of the inquiry and the amount of evidence have led to delays in publication, which is now not expected until autumn 2013 at the earliest. This note provides a brief update on progress.

Research Papers

Date	Description
14.12.2011	Military balance in Southeast Asia
	This paper examines the military balance of power in Southeast Asia and specifically at the military capabilities and priorities of six regional actors: Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Singapore.
15.11.2011	The Arab Uprisings
	Since December 2010, the most profound process of change has affected the countries of the Arab world. The change spread quickly between the countries of the region, underlining the many common factors that provoked unrest. How the region's revolutions progress, however, depends on the individual characteristics of each country, which are very different. This paper looks at these similarities and differences and considers the possible outcomes in each case. The legitimacy of ruling regimes, the effect of societies' divisions along confessional lines and the role of the region's militaries are considered.
22.06.2010	The 'AfPak policy' and the Pashtuns
	The first part of this paper focuses on the Pashtuns, beginning with a survey of the geographic, historical and cultural factors which have shaped Pashtun identities in Afghanistan and Pakistan before going on to describe the political and security arrangements under which they currently live. The paper then reviews the Pashtun armed militant groups currently operating in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The second part of the paper then looks at the US AfPak policy, setting out its origins and evolution before assessing the prospects for success over the coming year and beyond.
05.06.2009	War and peace in Sri Lanka
	This paper provides a brief historical and social survey of Sri Lanka, including the origins of the conflict between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE. It then gives an account of developments since 2002, when a ceasefire was agreed and hopes were raised - rapidly to be dashed - that there might be a peaceful negotiated resolution of the conflict. The paper also surveys the stance taken by the international community on the conflict, the military capabilities of the Sri Lankan military, and aid and development issues. It concludes by considering Sri Lanka's future prospects, including assessing how real the Government's military victory is and whether genuine political and constitutional reforms are likely to be introduced.
20.03.2009	Geneva Conventions and United Nations Personnel (Protocols) Bill [HL] (Bill 69 of 2008-09)
	This short Bill is intended to amend two UK Acts to enable the Government to ratify two international agreements protecting military medical personnel and humanitarian workers. In line with the protocols, the Bill would firstly sanction and protect the 'red crystal' as a new symbol to protect humanitarian personnel in armed conflict instead of (or in addition to) the existing red cross or red crescent; and secondly extend the definition of protected UN workers to include those delivering humanitarian, political or development assistance in peacebuilding operations and those delivering emergency humanitarian protection.

Select Committee Reports

Date	Description
13.09.2011	Parliament's role in conflict decisions - government response to the Committee's eighth report.
	Government response. Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee report [Commons]
10.05.2011	Parliament's role in conflict decisions.
	Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee report [Commons]
08.09.2010	Delivering multi-role tanker capability.
	Public Accounts Committee report [Commons]
27.07.2010	The comprehensive approach: the point of war is not just to win but to make a better peace.
	Government response. Defence Select Committee; Ministry of Defence report [Commons]
09.03.2010	The Comprehensive Approach: the point of war is not just to win but to make a better peace.
	Defence Select Committee report [Commons]

Early Day Motions

Date	Description
14.12.2011	MUNITIONS WORKERS IN THE WORLD WARS
	That this House commends all those who served in Royal Ordnance factories and privately-owned munitions factories across the UK during the First and Second World Wars; honours their ...
02.11.2011	THEFT OF METALS FROM WAR MEMORIALS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP
	That this House notes with concern the recent spate of reports of metal thefts from war memorials and places of worship; denounces recent thefts such as the four foot bronze statue ...
31.10.2011	WORLD WAR MEMORIALS
	That this House deplores the desecration of memorials to the fallen in the Great War and subsequent wars; urges councils and the police to prosecute vandals who damage such memorials; ...
27.10.2011	DEPLETED URANIUM WEAPONS RENEWAL
	That this House notes that the British Army maintains depleted uranium (DU) munitions within its arsenal and that 2.3 tonnes of DU rounds were fired by UK forces during the 1991 and ...
26.10.2011	INQUIRY INTO UK-LIBYA RELATIONS
	That this House urges the Government to initiate a full independent inquiry into all financial and military relationships between the UK and Libya in the past 20 years.