Should parliament vote before there is an air strike?

I believe Mrs May did it because Trump and Macron had backed her position over the nerve gas poisoning, so she felt obliged to back them

That is your thinking, your theory.

May acted in partnership with military strategists and the UN. The EU and it's member states and every country in the civilised world (apart from Corbyn) rightly backed May over the nerve gas poisonings in Salisbury.

She has to act on military advice and any pertinent secret intelligence given to her, and also in conjunction with strategists and advisors. The whole world was connected regarding chemical weapons being used in Syria.

You make it sound as if Macron and Trump had popped in to borrow a cup of sugar and she was duty bound to return it.

Missile attacks didn't work last year when the US used them Day6why do you imagine they will now? There has been continual use of chemical weapons in the Middle East. It's highly unlikely that this strike will stop anything. I suppose the obvious question is "what will we choose to hit next time?"

Excellent posts Day6

Last time it was an airfield only trisher

Tom Watson has obtained independent legal advice. I think this point is particularly concerning:
"11. One significant problem with the interpretation given by the government to its legal position, is that if accepted by states globally, it would allow for individual assessments of when force was necessary to achieve humanitarian ends. It is precisely because of the risk of abuse that this may give rise to, and the consequent humanitarian suffering that will ensue from such abusive uses of force, that other states and many scholars have been reluctant to endorse the doctrine of humanitarian action. Acceptance of the government’s legal position in this particular case would essentially open up the possibility of a small group of states, or individual states, taking action based on their own subjective interpretations as to when it is right or proper to use force".

Last time an airfield, this time production facilities, next time???

I doubt there will be a next time, Syria is almost back in Assad’s hands.

If Trump, May & Macron were aware of these chemical labs/stores etc then why hadn't they been reported to the UN and OPCW before? The lab reportedly bombed by the RAF was given clearance in Nov 2017. If it was a lab making chemical weapons, why was an American journalist there the next day without any protection? There are so many questions that don't have answers

Johnson said on Marr on Sunday that they told the Russians what the targets were, I assume to avoid any Russians being harmed?

The very same people who undermined coordinated efforts to save thousands from drowning off the shores of Europe – including Theresa May – now label missile strikes a “humanitarian intervention”. It is as gruesome as it is shameful.

now label missile strikes a “humanitarian intervention”. It is as gruesome as it is shameful

The humanitarian element is there, whether you like it or not.

Military intervention was delayed until other avenues like talking and sanctions had been used. I don't think anyone is overjoyed and cock-a-hoop that this has happened but we do have to defend mankind against those who would flout international law in using chemical weapons - wherever in the world it happens.

Imagine being at the mercy of tyrants and having no one getting involved or coming to your aid? I think there is a positive element to this action and it IS humanitarian.

But humanitarian grounds doesn't cover Palestinian children (Israel has used phosphorus gas), or Yemen children who are being bombed and starved by Saudi?

Really you can sell anything to some people!
we do have to defend mankind against those who would flout international law in using chemical weapons -only when it suits us!
Imagine being at the mercy of tyrants and having no one getting involved or coming to your aid? Tyrants like the Isis rebels for instance that Russia is helping to defeat?
or like the children in Yemen being bombed by Saudi Arabia?

I think it is probably such a political mess in Syria with the government poisoning their own citizens, various groups of rebels counter-attacking, Isis, Russia and now the Western allies and their “humanitarian intervention” that they just want it all to stop. Refugees fleeing, families torn apart, total confusion - those poor children.
A Syrian child probably doesn’t distinguish between the “humanitarian” or the “tyrant” they just want the bombing and attacks to stop and peace for their family.

Saudi Arabia, like Russia, is involved in The Yemen at the invitation of the Yemeni government. Like Syria, rebels are attempting to overthrow the legal government, and like Syria a catastrophe has emerged. Someone will always supply weapons, what the purchaser chooses to do with these weapons, defence or attack is out of the suppliers hands.

trisher - if talking and sanctions have no effect we sit back and ignore what is going on in Syria?

The strike was a one off on manufacturing bases. It was targeted, it was successful. It was supported by

The fact that ISIS cannot get their hands on those chemicals is a huge relief I'd have thought.

Positive responses from Juncker and Merkel, Trudeau and the EU.

The European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, said those who rely on chemical warfare must be held to account by the world. (From The Guardian)

"Juncker said the suspected use of poison gas last week in the Syrian city of Douma was as he puts it a “heinous chemical weapons attack carried out by the Syrian regime”. He said the world “has the responsibility to identify and hold accountable those responsible” for the attack."

Germany’s chancellor, Angela Merkel, said the allied strikes in Syria were a “necessary and appropriate” response to what the US and its allies say was a recent chemical attack in the Syrian city of Douma.

"Merkel said Berlin viewed the US, UK and France had taken “responsibility in this way as permanent members of the UN security council ... to maintain the effectiveness of the international rejection of chemical weapons use and to warn the Syrian regime against further violations”.

“Canada supports the decision by the United States, the United Kingdom and France to take action to degrade the Assad regime’s ability to launch chemical weapons attacks against its own people,” Trudeau said.

The situation in Yemen is tragic Trisher, so rather than try and divert this thread about Syria, perhaps you can start another thread about it and tell us what your solution would be..

'Leaders of countries throughout the world.' (Unfinished sentence)

The Yemen is just an example of places we choose not to benefit from our humanitarian support. Apart of course from providing Saudi Arabiia with the ability to deliver illegal weapons like cluster bombs. The full repercussions from the missile attacks will not be felt for some time I think. And if you care to read the full extent of chemical weapon usage in Syria Day6 (by both sides) you might realise that this wasn't a one-off event and that the reasons for authorising a missile strike now probably have very little to do with the actual gassing of civilians
www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/Timeline-of-Syrian-Chemical-Weapons-Activity

The bombings have little to do with gas sings. The west are backed into a corner. They have supported Saudi Arabia who in turn have supported Sunni insergents who are trying to control Syria, unfortunately these compose ISIS and Al Quaeda amongst others.
Russia is supporting Asad who is also being assisted by Iran which is a Shiite country. Israel is vehemently opposed to Iran gaining any further inroads into Syria and therefore as the West seems duty bound to align with Israels demands to prevent Irans ambitions it has to act. If Israel intervened unilaterally an uncontrolled war would ensue. By taking indirect action the west is sending a !gentle' message. It cares little for the folk of Syria.

I don’t believe that TM took this decision on a whim, I believe that there would have been sufficient intelligence for her to take this action & that there was Good enough reason to go ahead without a vote. I get really tired of arm chair politicians who pontificate as if they have all the facts at their finger tips. Its easy to know what the right thing to do is when you don’t have to DO anything .

Some people believed the 'dodgy dossier' as well. Some peole believe the earth is flat. doesn't mke either of them true.

Did any other poster watch Theresa May this afternoon on this subject?

Trisher , the earth IS flat in my neck of the woods?

Yes, I did POGS and thought T May gave a good and convincing speech for both joining the US and France in the strikes and for not waiting for this week and Parliament to vote on it. I think that Parliament would have voted yes anyway.

Report from One America News network
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSXwG-901yU&sns=em