International aid - the way forward?

Yes aid needs to be given to the Christians, Muslims who may happen to be the wrong sort, and of course the Yazidis, (not sure if that's the right spelling). Obviously the Kurds needs weaponry to fight off the onslaught of IS and they also need aid to assist with the people they are giving refuge to.

It's hard to know how the countries in the Middle East would line themselves up, as to helping either the Christians or this ancient sect, the Yazidis. It's shameful to think both these minority groups have been living in Iraq for thousands of years and may now never return there. Equally, the antagonism between Shias and Sunnis sounds far more extreme than anything that played out in Northern Ireland between the Catholics and Protestants.

I thought Saudi Arabia was an allay of America, but supposedly they are arming IS. Iran historically is a sworn enemy of Iraq, but also an enemy of America, possibly they are they softening their stance towards the latter, who knows? Iran is not particularly benevolent towards non Muslims, my neighbours are Persian Zorastorians, again a very old religion that pre dates Christianity and Islam. However, these people are considered apostates in Iran and that can carry the death sentence there.

There seem to be few stable places in the Middle East other than those run by autocrats, I don't know whether the giving of alms, one of the five pillars of Islam extend to infidels and apostates.

How lucky we are to live in a country where we are free to believe in whatever religion we follow, or indeed not follow. May our live and let live philosophy always be upheld.

Quite right When..., and the people who should be taking a lead in the delivery of humanitarian aid should surely be the UN under armed escort.

Good idea about putting pressure on rich countries in the Middle East, papaoscar. Don't know how anyone could do it though. I agree with you that humanitarian help is the most important and that it has to be given to those who actually need it. It's very difficult to know how to deal with fanatics, particularly religious ones, who have their god on their side (this is not an anti-Islam statement; as a Christian I would be just as worried about some of the American right-wing Bible-belters). Do they want to take over the world?