Is it right to bomb Syria?

Don't know if people have seen or heard Hillary Benn's speech from yesterday but here it is below.

The arousing and oratorical part of the speech that gained the headlines and applause starts at about 12 mins 10 secs into it.



I can't imagine us adding to the bombing of Syria will add much (or make things worse for us) in any significant way - we are already bombing Iraq so we are already not on IS and their followers Christmas card list and it as already acknowledged that bombing alone wont defeat them.

I guess it is all about a gesture more than anything else following the Paris massacre.

It didn't really make sense bombing IS in Iraq and not Syria, so the logical thing to do would have been either stop the current bombing or bomb them both.

I know whichever side people are on they view things their own way but I think the clearly attempted genocide of the Yazidi people really did mean that someone needed to stop this madness from spreading.

Whether the western world should be doing it is another thing but it does bring to mind this following poem -

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Martin Niemoller.


Have we done the right thing or the wrong thing?

There are enough countries bombing Syria, taking innocent lives as collateral damage as they go. Our involvement was totally unnecessary and the plan Cameron put forward typically basic for it to have little to no effect. Even John McKane described it as insignificant after the vote, all we're doing is fuelling an already messy situation.

Also worth pointing out these bombing runs cost £500k per run, considering this government claim we can't afford to fund the NHS it's an absolute disgrace. 

Hilary Benn's speech last night was powerful and well delivered, but he seemed to ignore the fact airstrikes were already happening, are indiscriminate in who they target and are already being evaded by ISIS on the ground.

I'd rather listen to his father -

Western democracy is at war with radical Islam so we have no choice other than to stand alongside our allies and take the fight to ISIS. Even if it had been a No vote in the House of Commons we would still be a legitimate target for the mad mullahs whether or not.

I wouldn't of done it personally.

Reebok Trotter wrote:Western democracy is at war with radical Islam so we have no choice other than to stand alongside our allies and take the fight to ISIS. Even if it had been a No vote in the House of Commons we would still be a legitimate target for the mad mullahs whether or not.

Every bomb we drop recruits another member to ISIS. How many times do we have to make the same mistake before we change our policy? It's absolutely senseless.

I think they'll be a Paris situation in the U.K. after this .

scottjames30 wrote:I think they'll be a Paris situation in the U.K. after this .

I think that regardless if we are bombing Syria or not, it will happen here Scott.

bwfc1874 wrote:

Reebok Trotter wrote:Western democracy is at war with radical Islam so we have no choice other than to stand alongside our allies and take the fight to ISIS. Even if it had been a No vote in the House of Commons we would still be a legitimate target for the mad mullahs whether or not.

Every bomb we drop recruits another member to ISIS. How many times do we have to make the same mistake before we change our policy? It's absolutely senseless.

 spot on 74



















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bwfc1874 wrote:Hilary Benn's speech last night was powerful and well delivered, but he seemed to ignore the fact airstrikes were already happening, are indiscriminate in who they target and are already being evaded by ISIS on the ground.

I'm pretty sure that the military are not just cluster bombing the fcuk out of Raqqa on a ad hoc basis.

They don't need to cluster bomb the fuck out of raqqa on a regular basis to kill civilians, you can't target a bomb to individual people. We didn't need to get involved with Cameron's plan, alternatives are available, this is symbolic bullshit with little meaning. 

Yet again we've thrown ourselves in to something we have no idea about in the worst possible way.

Cameron out!!

bwfc1874 wrote:We didn't need to get involved with Cameron's plan, alternatives are available, this is symbolic bullshit with little meaning. 

You mean the plan that many within Labour backed?

Also, do you accept Labour took us to war in the first place?

Of course I accept that you fool, but this has nothing to do with party politics it's a lot bigger than that. I'm of the belief Tony Blair should stand trial for war crimes maybe I'll get my wish once Chilcot releases the report.

TB is now earning Million working for world peace, you couldn't make it up.

bwfc1874 wrote:Of course I accept that you fool, but this has nothing to do with party politics it's a lot bigger than that. I'm of the belief Tony Blair should stand trial for war crimes maybe I'll get my wish once Chilcot releases the report.

So basically the Labour party are just as bad as the Tories. As I've been telling you for months.

If Milliband had won the election we'd be at exactly the same point right now.

Politics shouldn't come in to it for decisions like this, i'm still not sure if this will help or make things worse. I have a feeling it will be the latter






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Knob

told you i was starting up your campaign, you should be glad it's the only thing you'll win this year







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Natasha Whittam wrote:

bwfc1874 wrote:Of course I accept that you fool, but this has nothing to do with party politics it's a lot bigger than that. I'm of the belief Tony Blair should stand trial for war crimes maybe I'll get my wish once Chilcot releases the report.

So basically the Labour party are just as bad as the Tories. As I've been telling you for months.

If Milliband had won the election we'd be at exactly the same point right now.

Considering Miliband voted against air strikes I think you're talking shit.

But really you need to stop trying to boil this down to a level you can get your head round. Do you think Cameron's proposal had any long term strategy in it? Is killing more innocent people in the Middle East going slow down the rate people join these groups? Have any of our Middle East interventions been successful?