Should we bomb De-ash/ISIS in Syria?

WW2 was not won by dropping bombs but by troops on the ground
But did that help in Iraq and Afghanistan?

And WW2 ended 70 years ago. Technology moves on.

Go on Rosequartz, a charity cannot be mentioned too often

And - I haven't mentioned the charity I support again in case I am accused of 'virtue signalling' whatever it means
or virtual signalling, which may be what Andy Burnham was doing in the H of C yesterday.

250000 killed
6000000 displaced

I feel for the innocent people over there who are being slaughtered

ethel - so far these are the numbers killed or displaced:

'Syria’s civil war is the worst humanitarian crisis of our time. Half the country’s pre-war population — more than 11 million people — have been killed or forced to flee their homes.'

That report was dated 7th October and the report is by a large charity.

I don't know if the UK joining the coalition in Syria will help or not but the situation is already desperate.

I was saddened to learn that the vote was yes. I mailed my MP and received an almost instantaneous response - blah blah was all she wrote. But then I should have realised something was going down... South Cyprus (Akrotiri) was given the go ahead to purchase weapons last week after a 25 year embargo by the US/UK. But where will they get the money from.. EU? France, as the biggest manufacturer and exporter of arms to the near and middle east, must be clapping their hands. Speaking of EU selling arms to the near and middle east, and the rebels (for want of a better word) obtaining and using these arms against the west - are we shooting ourselves in the foot, so to speak? Will the next vote be boots on the ground? Home - it is said - for a soldier, is the battleground. But we should be equipped and ready to support those who come back. Just like we did after Iraq and Afghanistan - not forgetting Northern Ireland or the Falklands. (Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit... but I don't subscribe to the finished sentence!) All we can do now is wait and see. I would have hoped that our troops would have been used putting a ring of steel around this island, and the navy built up once again to patrol the seas, and the airforce given (any, or even modern) aircraft to patrol the skies... .

Our bombers did target their oil fields only.

I suppose if you stay out of their way you would be alright. Not all of Syria is over-run with them. If you lived in a place they are currently holding, you would have to do as they say.

They probably feel that is better than being blown to smithereens. Or buried under rubble.

Off topic, apologies, but I saw the women from the ANC singing and supporting Reeva's mother after the further verdict in South Africa today, very moving.

WW2 was not won by dropping bombs but by troops on the ground. The suffering of the people in Syria will go on. They just have another set of bombs to take cover from. I don't suppose they look up and think "Thank goodness it's a British bomb, that's OK then."

I don't follow, have as much political knowledge as some of you but agree with Ginny there have been beheadings, people buried alive, people thrown off the top of buildings. I would have thought I would welcome intervention as life was hell on earth.

I've now read all posts and I'm reminded of asking my father when the horror of WW2 became clear to me, 'Why did no one stop Hitler?'

If you were a civilian in Syria now, would you not be hoping and praying that someone, somewhere was going to come and help you?

Yes I was a raging teenager I so wanted them to destroy the nukes, now they have Im glad. I raged as a widowed mother as I was not given any priority to seek a job, it seemed as if younger widows were ignored. Now Im a raging granny. I rage over sexism, ageism and now the war.

Grannies of the world unite and talk some sense into the politicians who think they are doing the right thing.

It needs to be developed-bombing alone is neither here nor there-in fact can create reprisals.The campaign needs to be developed-concentrations created in "safe areas" to accommodate the victims.Common sense really-the role of the UN /UNESCO etc.The best the bombing can do is to deprive natural economic resources.

I was a raging teenager, a raging mother and am now a raging grandmother

And me - count me in ethel and trish

ethel there used to be an organisation called "Raging Grannies" it began in Canada. They met and demonstrated and sang peace songs. I remember the late Tony Benn saying he met them outside a meeting somewhere and wanted to join them. Maybe it is time for a resurgence. Something has to be done. I knew that the vote was most likely to be for bombing, but still wanted to cry when it came through.
raginggrannies.org/

Good post ethel - with you all the way.

I am upset today watching the morning news, after an hour of the vote there were planes off to bomb the IS, Im not interested in politics and don't want to get involved in a bitch fight with any one on grans net but I feel for the innocent people over there who are being slaughtered , I also worry about what the repercussions will be over here. What sort of world will my DGD grow up into, if there is any world left. We grandmas should unite and tell the world to stop this fighting. I know that's impossible but I just hate war and fighting.

Never understood virtual signalling, often used by two here to mock others , not interested in what it means , must be bitchy

Well seems we are not to call IS. IS, Cameron has said they are not to be called IS. ISIL, Islsmic State or the other names ehich I can't recall. Big Boy said he wants them called Daesh, you have been warned ladies and gentleman and women

Having just come across the concept ( surprising what you learn on GN) as none of my circle of friends have ever used it to describe someone (perhaps they are too kind). I am now trying to work out what I can say that isn't VS.

Yep, kettle and pot spring to mind Gracesgran

Shouldn't it be Virtue Signalling - madness and illogical of course.

I describe a group of people as "Daily Mail Readers" and that, apparently signals my perceived virtuous view of myself because it says that I am not one of the "Daily Mail Reader" types but ...

If someone then describes me as a virtue signaller are they not signalling their own perceived virtuous view of themselves as not being the sort of person who would virtue signal by describing a group of people as "Daily Mail Readers".

Calling people Virtue Signallers just seems like a sort of inverted something - like inverted snobbery but something else

Yes. After the Paris attacks, France invoked Article 42 asking the EU for help. You can read more about it here

France asks EU for help.

Many EU countries were already part of the International Coalition.

Does anyone know if any other country in the EU has either been asked by France or has taken the initiative to involve themselves in the bombing of either Syria or IRAQ to stand in solidarity with their 'union' allies?