LONDON, July 18 (UPI) -- A top British defense official says the military must take the moral high ground or risk playing into the hands of terrorists and other militants in combat.

Gen. Sir Richard Dannatt, British chief of the general staff, says it is imperative that the military take the moral high ground as it wages war in a new era when ideas and values are at the heart of conflicts, the British Ministry of Defense reported.

"In conflict and war, our soldiers must uphold the highest of values and standards," Dannatt said in a statement.

"Failure to do so would not only in itself be wrong but would also play into the hands of our enemies, for some of whom compromise is not an option. Robust and exemplary leadership is central to this."

Dannatt says success during combat missions is no longer about winning or losing, but when peace has been achieved.