Syria- should Parliament be recalled?

oh dear dont they have to go through the gruesome conference season first Ariadne and we can't let a mere matter of Syria interfere with that can we.

No, they reconvene 2nd September, and, theoretically, are back in action then. So we'll see...

I don't think it is an option to stand by and let Syria cross this line of horrendous chemical attack on innocents.

It is totally different from Iraq where there was no evidence of chemical attack which proved unfounded or have I missed something?

Another good article on questions to ask. Will military intervention help Syrians? If we are not clear that it will, then perhaps it shouldn't happen.

We have a lot of opinions on tactics that should or should not be used, on who or who did not use chemical weapons, on who should be supported and who should not

What about minding your own business? Who appointed us, or the USA as the world police? What has any of this got to do with us? How should these innocent people be killed? Do we prefer them to be blown up with a high explosive shell, a rocket, to be shot down with rifles.small arms fire,a drone,a chemical weapon? This list is not exhaustive, but if you would like to pick one or two as the preferred method of dying that could help a good deal.

The fact is no one is sure who did what, but we do know to whom.As long as there is oil, gold rare earths etc we will have big business via governments professing concern about the populace and intervening on OUR behalf, despite our marches and protests,The it WILL be a mess, of our making.And who will suffer?

It is always a difficult question about other governments intervening in another country where there is no direct or informal alliance.

What responsibility does another government have when diplomatic routes have not resolved or lessened the conflict and civilians are suffering?

Should we (our government /other governments) just offer humanitarian aid such as supporting temporary refuge?

It is a dangerous road as unless there is a united view across all other major powers then we tread a path to a hugely protracted and increased conflict.

On the other hand it is hard to watch people just like me and , children so like my DGC suffering and not feel there is anything that can be done to stop it.

Good article bags. Parliament is recalled, and to sit on Thursday. I have heard very few people supporting our military involvement, and I'm opposed to it. I'd support offering medical/social support but avoid any kind of military action. The news so far indicates "we" are planning to offer air strikes, in support of the US plan to begin bombing. How can more violence help the Syrian people.

Why the hell would any sane president order bomb strikes to rain on stricken Syria? Haven't they got enough to deal with, wihout this aggressive military action? I can foresee a major uprising here in the West, if a peaceful way forward is waived in favour of bombing. What is wrong with these people?

Military involvement could lead to a scary reaction from Russia China etc...

We remember the Cold War, yes?

Yes, I didn't understand the Cold War (still young then) but it scared me to think what the newspapers said Russia was capable of. I don't see Putin as being a force for good.

No more meddling, no more war. Sick of the war-mongers in Westminster, sending our young people to die needlessly in the Middle East. Awful IMO to even be thinking of doing what they plan.

I would be pleased to see a major joint effort to support shelter and medical aid whilst major diplomatic efforts continue to stop the killing.

Dara whilst it is not 'our' war there are already 120000 people dead in this conflict. They are all someone's loved ones we can't just ignore it.

Just emailing my MP to say that I am horrified at the talk from the government (and now Tony Blair, for heaven's sake) about "taking action" without even UN backing, that I don't believe that missiles can be targetted only at the "bad guys", that we should wait for the UN inspectors to report and for confirmation of who exactly did what, and that there would be a lot more public support for giving help to the countries who are dealing with all the refugees rather than killing yet more innocent Syrians. Perhaps if we all gave our MPs our opinions... It may not help, but it makes you feel better!

If you do want to get in touch, the formula seems to be [email protected].

Grandmanorm , see you at the protest march!

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/comment/2013/08/the-debate-over-intervention-in-syria.html?utm_source=tny

I know it's a USA paper but I thought it put things very succinctly.

www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/comment/2013/08/the-debate-over-intervention-in-syria.html?utm_source=tny

Sorry, forgot to blue it.

www.writetothem.com is an excellent method of contacting your MP, MEP or local councillor. Just put in your postcode and compose your email.

Will try but I don't hold out much hope, my M.P. has chosen to ignore all scientific evidence, expert advice (see today's lunchtime news and has sanctioned the badger 'cull') So what chance he will listen to an old granny?

I've logged on to write to my MP. He is Labour and a good constituency MP, but having heard Ed Milliband on the news this evening, my dread is building that our government will follow the USA. Thanks for the link JessM

Why is it acceptable to kill people with Cruise Missiles but not with chemical weapons? And it's inevitably going to involve the deaths of civilians.

Getting involved in Syria will be taking part in a civil war which is not in our interest. We don't need another conflict .

It's a crazy world. Protesters at Arms Exhibitions in the UK were treated as if they are enemies of the state and yet they were simply highlighting the obscenity of so-called civilized countries depending on the arms industry for economic growth.

As absent says, war is horrible and civilians are killed whatever weapons are used. Agent Orange was used in Vietnam and decimated the landscape, and depleted uranium was used in Iraq, causing terrible deformities in children there.

I agree with whenim that it seems strange that Assad would use chemical weapons after Obama had said that if they were used a "red line" would have been crossed. Why would it be in Assad's interest to provoke US intervention?

I too was disappointed to see that Miliband seems to be backing Cameron. Is there no-one who will stand up against this madness?

I have heard there is going to be a protest - I think outside the Houses of Parliament - tomorrow at 5 p.m.

Eloethan The defoliant chemicals used in Vietnam are still causing birth defects three generations down the line.

Eloethan - I do hope the protest outside Parliament is more effective than the huge anti war marches before the Iraq war. I can't imagine the general public will be any more in support of bombing Syria than the gransnet contributors on this thread.

I have written to my MP Paul Goggins this morning.