Is escalating the conflict by bombing the Houthis the way to go?

Why would it be difficult for merlotgran to answer?

merlotgran

^I wonder if Russia was to overrun and occupy Ukraine and there was a Ukraine resistance formed which kept attacking Russia would we regard those fighters as terrorists or freedom fighters, trying to regain control of their own country and evict the occupiers^.

I had no idea Ukrainian terrorists/freedom fighters had spent decades harassing Russia, threatening to wipe them off the face of the earth, supported by other countries willing to fund them in their cause.

You learn something new every day.

It's a theoretical concept merlogran but I appreciate answering it would be difficult for you since it opens a whole can of worms about territory acquired by force.

Callistemon21

I've passed resolutions too but no-one takes any notice of me either.

Is the UN no more effective than me, then? If so, what is the point of them and their resolutions? None whatsoever. Just an expensive talking shop.

But you wanted them to take charge.
The UN can and does do a difficult and dangerous jobin many places. However it needs cooperation from all parties involved to do it well. In the case of Israel whilst the US refuses to do anything Israel might object to the UN is powerless.

I wonder if Russia was to overrun and occupy Ukraine and there was a Ukraine resistance formed which kept attacking Russia would we regard those fighters as terrorists or freedom fighters, trying to regain control of their own country and evict the occupiers.

I had no idea Ukrainian terrorists/freedom fighters had spent decades harassing Russia, threatening to wipe them off the face of the earth, supported by other countries willing to fund them in their cause.

You learn something new every day.

I've passed resolutions too but no-one takes any notice of me either.

Is the UN no more effective than me, then? If so, what is the point of them and their resolutions? None whatsoever. Just an expensive talking shop.

That's a bit difficult the UN have been passing resolutions about what should happen in the area for decades and Israel has ignored them. How can they take charge when one of the parties refuses to recognise their authority?
From 2004
Further it was reaffirmed that the Palestinian people have the right to self-determination and to sovereignty over their territory.

The General Assembly expressed its determination to contribute to the achievement of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. Also it was expressed that a peace settlement in the Middle East should result in two viable, sovereign and independent States, based on the pre-1967 borders.

The preamble reaffirmed the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, and the need to enable the Palestinian people to exercise sovereignty and to achieve independence in their State, Palestine

I wonder if Russia was to overrun and occupy Ukraine and there was a Ukraine resistance formed which kept attacking Russia would we regard those fighters as terrorists or freedom fighters, trying to regain control of their own country and evict the occupiers?

I have an even dumber idea.

Ask the United Nations to take charge and try to get sides together to negotiate peace.

“I have what some may consider a dumb idea, but here it is: stop the bombing of Gaza, then the attacks on commercial shipping will end. Why not try that approach?”

Then Hamas will regroup and continue firing rockets into Israel as well as commuting other atrocities against its civilians.

Some may consider it a pretty dumb idea.

After the second round of strikes, a Democratic representative from Georgia named Hank Johnson tweeted the following:

“I have what some may consider a dumb idea, but here it is: stop the bombing of Gaza, then the attacks on commercial shipping will end. Why not try that approach?”

In the end, you get peace by pursuing peace. You get it by negotiation, de-escalation, diplomacy and detente.

Louella12

I do find it interesting how some people seem to believe we can have constructive diplomatic talks with terrorists.

Lovely idea but never going to happen

Ireland?

M0nica

^The U.K. does not have a very successful recent history of interfering in the Middle East.^

This isn't interfering in the Middle East, it is protecting shipping of all nations in international waters from being attcked by terrorists.

The nearest comparison is the campaign a few years ago to stop the pirates kidnapping ships and sailors off the East African coast.

Protecting the safe passage of shipping in international waters and waters not owned by any particular nation is of paramount importance to the whole world.

If we are so concerned about the free movement of shipping why hasn't international action been taken to break the blockade Israel has imposed on Gaza for the last 20 years. When ships tried to break the blockade Israeli soldiers boarded them and shot and killed passengers. Wasn't that piracy? casebook.icrc.org/case-study/israel-blockade-gaza-and-flotilla-incident#:~:text=The%20so%2Dcalled%20Gaza%20Freedom,dead%2C%20received%20widespread%20condemnation%20internationally.

GrannyGravy13

Glorianny I assume you know that others are ahead of U.K. in arms exports?

Is it some sort of race GrannyGravy13 should be concerned because we aren't winning it? Personally I'd rather we didn't compete at all. But International regulations on selling arms say that they should not be sold to repressive regimes. In selling equipment to Saudi that was used to attack Yemeni civilians the UK flouted that agreement. www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/arms-control/

The idea that we should sell arms because another country does reminds me of what my mother would say when I claimed I'd only done something because my brother had, "And if he puts his hand in the fire will you do it as well?"
It's time the UK took responsibility for the results of its trading.

The U.K. does not have a very successful recent history of interfering in the Middle East.

This isn't interfering in the Middle East, it is protecting shipping of all nations in international waters from being attcked by terrorists.

The nearest comparison is the campaign a few years ago to stop the pirates kidnapping ships and sailors off the East African coast.

Farzanah

I don’t believe those who do not wholeheartedly support U.K. and US bombings are necessarily blindingly naive Oreo but are thoughtfully studying the wider implications of such actions.
The U.K. does not have a very successful recent history of interfering in the Middle East.

The West could ignore the Middle East and let them fight amongst tvhemselves.

However, when they fire missiles at Western Navy vessels (USA) along with commercial ships in the Red Sea to do nothing is akin to giving them carte blanche to wage war and piracy on whoever and whatever the choose.

I don’t believe those who do not wholeheartedly support U.K. and US bombings are necessarily blindingly naive Oreo but are thoughtfully studying the wider implications of such actions.
The U.K. does not have a very successful recent history of interfering in the Middle East.

Katie59

The trigger point was apparently the Houthi’s launched 4 missiles directly at a US Destroyer all destroyed so the US struck back

Any organisation, group or government who deliberately fires missiles at an American vessel, base or territory must realise that there will be an immediate targeted response.

The trigger point was apparently the Houthi’s launched 4 missiles directly at a US Destroyer all destroyed so the US struck back

The Houthis are using Gaza as an excuse to carry on with pirate tactics against the West as regards to shipping, this isn’t a new thing.Anyone who believes and defends them is blindingly naive.
Them, hamas, hezbollah, isis, taliban and so on are the same sort of thugs who go in for murder and mutilation, repression of women including beatings and rape and ignore their fellow countrymen and all their needs.
Iran bankroll them behind the scenes but won’t want a full on conflict with the West.
All countries who could be affected by having ships attacked and stolen need to step up.

Cowardly is right, they sure are LauraNorderr it looks weak.

I gather that many European countries are contributing but do not wish to be named.
This is quite cowardly imo to hide behind the brave who are taking all the flak.

Yes the Americans did kill many Japanese civilians at the end WW2, but in doing so, they saved many many civilian, combatant and P.O.W lives by bringing an end to the war in the Far East way sooner than it would have been, as the Japanese, although warned several times of what would happen, stubbornly refused to surrender and would have fought to the last person standing, extending the war by months of not years.

Who to believe ? Unless you are actually there it is hard to know. I detest everything Hamas stands for and the way they use human shields to further their cause. They are terrorists. Then you hear that the Israelis are killing many innocent people. It seems they are all killing each other but that’s war,isn’t it ? The Americans murdered many innocentJapanese people in the Second World War . Wars are dreadful. Pray this one might soon be over and not escalate. I don’t blame Europeans for keeping out of it,we don’t need World War 3.

This is easy

Hamas are willing to use Palestinians a human shields to further their aim to destroy Israel

I assume you support Hamas in its aim to do that

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202401/medium-59660-img-2648.png https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202401/medium-753942-img-2649.png

Glorianny I assume you know that others are ahead of U.K. in arms exports?