Should we bomb De-ash/ISIS in Syria?

Does it matter who exports the most?
The UK is part of the EU, still, as are France and Germany.
The EU has voted for an EU wide embargo on selling arms to Saudi, because they are used to kill the people of the Yemen, who seem to be forgotten about with all the problems of Syria.

"British and American military officials are in the command and control centre for Saudi airstrikes on Yemen, and have access to lists of targets, although they do not play any role in choosing them, the Saudi Arabian foreign minister has said.

Human rights groups, the European parliament and the UN have all expressed concerns about airstrikes by a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, in support of the internationally recognised government.

Nearly 3,000 civilians have been killed in Yemen since full-blown civil war broke out in March, according to the UN. A million other people have been displaced and the country is now at serious risk of famine.

The UK government has been put on notice that it is in breach of international law for allowing the export of British-made missiles and military equipment to Saudi Arabia that might have been used to kill civilians."

It's the UK government that is in breach of international law.

So how will that effect German, France, Spain and Italy?

Am I incorrect in saying Germany and France export more than the UK when it comes to Arms Sales?

Happy to be put right on the subject.

And many think we are so for peace

MEPs have voted for a European Union-wide arms embargo against Saudi Arabia to protest against the Gulf state’s heavy bombing campaign in Yemen.

The European parliament voted by a large majority for an EU-wide ban on arms sales to the kingdom, citing the “disastrous humanitarian situation” as a result of “Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen”.

The vote does not compel EU member states to act but it does increase pressure on Riyadh, in the wake of criticism from the UN and growing international alarm over civilian casualties in Yemen.
British and US military 'in command room' for Saudi strikes on Yemen
Read more

The resolution also turns up the heat on the British government, which has supplied export licences for up to £3bn worth of arms to Saudi Arabia in the last year. The UK has been accused of direct involvement in the bombing campaign through the deployment of UK military personnel to the kingdom.

The EU has voted for an EU wide embargo on arms sales to Saudi.
Cameron obviously did not know about it.

www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/25/david-cameron-brilliant-uk-arms-exports-saudi-arabia-bae

I hope it can still be stopped.

secure.avaaz.org/en/no_more_saudi_arms_deals_loc/?slideshow

There is a vote tomorrow in the EU on stopping arms sales to Saudi.
This link should show anyone interested how to get in touch by facebook or other methods and ask those involved to stop the arms trade.

Strangely enough, this is an important part of the EU, and why we should stay in. The UK government wants to continue selling arms to Saudi.

"Thank you to each and every one of you. I really don’t know what to say. If it hadn’t been for all of your support I would still be behind bars today.

I still don’t know why I was arrested or what my charges were. I am relieved to be free but I have to mention that there are many others in the same situation I was in. I met fellow detainees held without charge for much longer periods of time than I was. There were some detainees that had been there up to nine months after being declared innocent by a court of law.

I wish that every detainee has the same army of advocates as I had pushing for their release. It’s clear that when people act collectively and make noise, lives can be changed.

Even though I was not officially told my charges, I understand that it had to do with crossing into Syria and coming back. I crossed into Syria to report on the Russian bombing of civilians and to show how people in Aleppo widely rejected Isis yet were being bombed under the auspices of being Isis terrorists. There are hardly any reporters on the ground in Syria even though it is in the midst of the world’s greatest humanitarian catastrophe and there is something akin to a world war being fought on Syrian soil.

The country is victim to censorship as well as a loss of appetite for its repetitive stories of violence. It is important that journalists cover this conflict. They should be able to do it carefully and intelligently and this means being able to focus on the story rather than worry about being arbitrarily detained. "

The journalist was frred on Saturday morning.
He thanks everyone who signed the petition to free him.

Calais is being bulldozed. There is a 38 degrees petition to help the children.
Can't get a link to it, but I'm sure someone will be able to.

When the Americans bombed a hospital they said - sorry, it was a mistake. Russia has allegedly dine the same and it's a war crime

It was obvious us trotting along with America to bomb was wrong but no, we had to be a super world power

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2016/02/18/syria-bombing-brimstone-raf-isis-killed-_n_9261278.html

An FOI request shows that the British joining in wasn't worth it.

500 more people have signed since I started typing that.

act.thesyriacampaign.org/sign/free-rami?t=1&akid=292.124249.gRzvxx

I put a link to a live broadcast from the syriacampaign a while ago.

The journalist involved has been arrested in Turkey.
The campaign is now asking for his release. Another petition to sign, I know, but a worthwhile cause.

It's not just children living in Calais that have problems. This is terrible.

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/hundreds-of-masked-men-beat-refugee-children-in-stockholm-a6843451.html

I hope the Swedish authorities can do something about it. Someone needs to go to court over this.

Unfortunately the children in Calais are not a priority for Cameron. They are just part of that bunch of migrants.

www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/27/labour-raises-pressure-on-cameron-to-explain-yemen-involvement

Hopefully the pressure will make him do something about stopping the selling of arms to Saudi, but I'm not holding my breath.
At least Corbyn and Benn agree on this.

Luckylegs, what is not sensible about bringing children who have family already in the UK to live with their families?
Are you really as hard hearted as you imply?

This is extremely worrying.

reprieve.bsd.net/page/speakout/still-not-our-concern

Read it in reprieve's words.

I hope they bring those children here very quickly , who wants to see children living in the Calais jungle ? One would have to have a heart of stone not to want to get those children from that hell hole

As you see it, yes.

www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/latest/news/4530_court_orders_calais_children_to_be_brought_to_uk

Somebody seeing sense at last.

Who would be in the position of making a decision like this, it is not black and white. Dealing with fanatics and barbarians isn't like dealing with normal people who have boundaries and you can negotiate with. Just glad it's not me deciding.

Nothing to do with the last few posts written.

And it might have been said before, but I am not going to read 35 pages to make sure!

Is there a reason that if members of IS are caught, that they couldnt become political prisoners?

"To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to ensure that UK-made arms are not being used to commit human rights abuses in Yemen.

Hansard source
(Citation: HC Deb, 19 January 2016, cW)

"We remain deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Yemen. We continue to raise the importance of compliance with International Humanitarian Law with all sides to the conflict.

The UK operates one of the most rigorous and transparent export control regimes in the world. All exports of arms and controlled military goods are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing, taking account of all relevant factors at the time of the application. Risks around human rights violations are a key part of our assessment against the Consolidated Criteria. A licence will not be issued, for any country, if to do so would be inconsistent with any provision of the mandatory Criteria."

This was the government response yesterday. It's an obvious lie. If they were concerned at all they would ensure that arms are not sold to Saudi.

We're helping Saudi Arabia to bomb the Yemen.

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/british-arms-companies-cash-in-on-humanitarian-catastrophe-and-ramp-up-bomb-sales-to-saudi-arabia-by-a6822491.html

British arms exporters have sold over a billion pounds worth of bombs and missiles to Saudi in the last three months of 2015.

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-s-foreign-affairs-minister-urges-britain-to-respect-kingdom-s-death-penalty-two-weeks-a6815586.html

The reason the British do not respect Saudi is because they haven't explained themselves well enough, according to this minister.
They respect us for not executing people, so we should respect them for executing people.

That explains why they want to be friends with PR Dave.

www.amnesty.org.uk/

A poet is likely to be put to death in Saudi for apostasy. The Saudi government says that his poetry has questioned God and spread atheism.

Please sign. Don't do nothing.

opendemocracy.net/paul-rogers/syria-iraq-civilian-deaths-british-denials

Wouldn't it be better if the government said it did not know how many civilians it has killed?