Gransnet forums

News & politics

Should we bomb De-ash/ISIS in Syria?

(932 Posts)
JessM Fri 27-Nov-15 08:30:52

Blair took us into the Iraq war (to keep his American allies happy) and the Middle East was de-stabilised.
Its even more unstable and Cameron seems keen to send bombers there,presumably to keep his EU allies happy (given his negotiations...).
ISIS/DEA-SH thrive on chaos. They are a death cult aimed at hastening the end of the world. (Day of Judgement, Islam style).
Given the chaos in Syria and Iraq with all the different factions on the ground and Russia joining the throng in the air I cannot see why joining in would be either helpful or wise.
The poor civilians on the ground are now in fear of Assad, De-ash/ISIS and the bombs.
Cameron's arguments are thin.
Here are some more arguments on the other side voxpoliticalonline.com/2015/11/27/how-many-innocents-will-die-because-of-right-wing-labours-petulance/
Your MP will be heading back to their constituency to think about this over the weekend.
If you are against the bombing please, please write to your MP.
You can use this very easy site. You just type in your postcode and the site will ensure that your MP gets your email. They will be getting lots of emails on the subject so there is no need to be long-winded, so it's a 5 minute task. www.writetothem.com

NfkDumpling Wed 02-Dec-15 13:34:45

I just heard a pro MP (didn't catch his name) say that it was all ok as we used Brimstone missiles which don't explode on the ground! That explains why the French and Americans don't have them! God help us!

Tegan Wed 02-Dec-15 13:28:10

I watched the Simon Reeve programme about Ireland the other night and was saddened to see that the problems are still there albeit without the violence [or not as much]. Peace is often just a case of plugging a volcano for as long as possible sometimes, and the only thing that really seems to work is people talking and recognising 'the enemy' as a fellow human being.

Anniebach Wed 02-Dec-15 13:23:13

Gracesgran, he has now been asked many times for an apology and still refuses, he has no honour

10milewalk Wed 02-Dec-15 13:18:03

Bombs will never fix the worlds problems and just end up with more people getting killed, I hope the MPs vote no. I've emailed my local MP.

Gracesgran Wed 02-Dec-15 13:14:56

WilmaKnickersfit Wed 02-Dec-15 09:54:09
To date there's been no civilian casualties reported from our air strikes in Iraq against ISIL.

I am not sure how else to read this WilmaKnickersfit. I am afraid you cannot rely on the fact that you have put comments "on several threads" as I do not come on here very often these days so took your comment at face value. Good to hear you do not believe Cameron's claim and I too would want them to vote against the motion.

WilmaKnickersfit Wed 02-Dec-15 12:42:41

Gracesgran the claim our air strikes in Iraq against ISIL have caused no civilian casualties has just been repeated by David Cameron in the live discussion. I don't believe the claim and I am against the motion, which is surely clear from my comments on several threads, including this one. The 'head in the sand' remark should be directed elsewhere.

Gracesgran Wed 02-Dec-15 12:42:27

He is showing himself to be a man of very little honour Anniebach.

whitewave Wed 02-Dec-15 12:31:35

Cameron not big enough to apologise for his remark.

whitewave Wed 02-Dec-15 12:07:52

Once we have bombed what then? Who fills the space left by IS?

Anniebach Wed 02-Dec-15 11:51:02

What a pathetic man Cameron is. Last night those who opposed the bombing of Syria are terrorists sympathisers. This morning he has decided it is honourable to vote yes or no .

Perhaps a Cameronite would explain how there is honour in sympathising with terrorists?

POGS Wed 02-Dec-15 11:47:08

Did anyone watch Victoria Derbyshire prog. yesterday. ?

In the studio were two Labour MP's Angela Smith MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge and Ian Murry Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland and Ken Livingstone on a live feed. They were discussing the Syria vote but both of the MP's called on Livingstone to 'apologise' for his comments that they both believed gave an excuse for the terrorists who committed the 7/7 bombings.

I don't think Cameron was wise to use the words he did even if it was in private. But I do think he was referring to comments and speeches that are available to read /hear concerning certain Labour MP's and the organisations they support that will allow people to make their own assessments as to how they perceive them.

I would hope that given the massive task they all have before them the politics of bias/rhetoric is put to one side for the next 10 hours and mature debate /questioning takes place as indeed it did when Cameron took questions for 3 hours on November 26th. Might I add I believe 3 hours was the same time Parliament debated before the vote on Iraq.

I hope too the 'pressure' that is reported to have been put on the Labour MP's does still allow them the right to vote by following their continence and putting the country before party politics irrespective of whether they vote for or against. It is not the time for anything else !!!!!!

granjura Wed 02-Dec-15 10:57:07

Same here- according to the King of Saudi Arabia, as a humanist (atheist if you prefer) I am automatically a terrorist. Don't expect better from him really. And then, as someone who thinks that bombing Syria, without the support of troops on the ground and better intelligence- is not likely to solve the problems with Isis- Cameron now says I am a terrorist sympathiser. Now, even as a non Cameron fan- I did expect better from him - shame on him.

GillT57 Wed 02-Dec-15 10:40:59

I have just emailed my MP and told him how angry I am.

Anniebach Wed 02-Dec-15 10:33:36

Well said GILLT57, I too am angered at being called a terrorist sympathiser , I too am angry, sad and fearful

GillT57 Wed 02-Dec-15 10:27:03

I am deeply offended by Cameron's disgusting dismissal of those who oppose the increased bombing. Many people, better qualified then I, have discussed this situation and come to the conclusion that bombing Syria will not make any difference to the threat from Isis and will make the situation even more desperate for those civilians caught up in it. How dare he dismiss me as some kind of loony? How dare he accuse me of being a terrorist sympathiser? I am so angry and so sad and fearful at the same time. Irrespective of one's politics, surely everyone should be angered by this arrogance, this defamation? angry

rosequartz Wed 02-Dec-15 10:25:05

Gracesgran I am thinking until my head is spinning, but the fact remains I don't have access to all the facts and it is not me making the decision.

Anniebach Wed 02-Dec-15 10:18:52

Nigglenellie, may I suggest you join one of the pacifist movements in this country, you will see constant objections to killing of innocent people in
Iraq and all countries , we are not selective in condemning violence neither are we selective in condoning violence

Anan Wed 02-Dec-15 10:18:51

I repeat, the civilians in Syria are suffering a tragedy of epic proportions and we cannot turn our backs on them.
The decision for us to bomb or not to bomb may not make much difference to the situation. We are only adding fire power to a zone controlled by Isis. We are not starting a war. It could alleviate some suffering (precision bombing) or it may add to the misery for the civilians. It is a judgement that we do not have the military expertise to make.
We can put pressure on politicians to concentrate on humanitarian aid which the British army has some expertise in. A coalition with the US , France and Russia to set up safe camps and no fly zones with an interim government. Our involvement in the bombing will give us more authority in future discussions with this coalition.

rosequartz Wed 02-Dec-15 10:12:32

Yes, gracesgran, I thought that's what I said, all those affected (perhaps I didn't).

My weeping and wailing doesn't do much good though, (neither did praying), so that is why I have been actively supporting a small charity helping refugees and those still suffering in Syria for years.

Anniebach Wed 02-Dec-15 10:10:08

No rosequartz , not taken as a personal criticism , just tried to point out what I consider a criticism and a vile comment

Gracesgran Wed 02-Dec-15 10:10:05

To date there's been no civilian casualties reported from our air strikes in Iraq against ISIL.

I think that, in all the discussion about how we go forward with the problem of Daesh - it is not a recognised state - this is the most unbelievable remark I have seen WilmaKnickersfit

Just copy and paste "civilian casualties reported from our air strikes in Iraq against ISIL" into Google and see what comes up.

Talk about putting your head in the sand or blinkers on; what you say is just so far from the truth.

rosequartz Wed 02-Dec-15 10:05:50

Very confused by your post anniebach. You seem to have taken my post objecting to the word 'vile' as a personal criticism, it was a general observation.
I am not defending anyone.

Gracesgran Wed 02-Dec-15 10:03:10

JessM thanks for the link - very much as I feel. Although I do not come on here so much these days I do look in and like to pick up on the various links to read some of the facts and opinions.

Rosesarered who has said we will not "deal with extremists and terrorists"? Just because it needs to be done does not mean the way Cameron is suggesting has been shown in any way to be the way we should do it. It really isn't as simple as "let's bomb them" or "let's do nothing" and I am sure you would be offended if someone suggested you were unthinkingly saying "let's bomb them".

Rosequartz shouldn't we weep for all who have been affected by this horrendous regime, either directly by them or as a consequence of trying to stop them. That is surely why we must think very carefully about what we do and what the outcomes are likely to be.

WilmaKnickersfit Wed 02-Dec-15 09:54:09

To date there's been no civilian casualties reported from our air strikes in Iraq against ISIL.

I have no time for Diane Abbot.

Saudi Arabia did finance ISIL in its early days because it saw ISIL as a way to get rid of Assad.

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 02-Dec-15 09:52:58

I do, however, agree that Cameron's outburst was vile. Totally ridiculous. And I bet even he wishes he hadn't said it.