| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Will our MP be voting against air strikes? | |
| Posted by: | Phil Andrews | |
| Date/Time: | 27/11/15 18:25:00 |
| If one looks at recent Western policy in the region holistically it is clear that the priority target has been strong secular leaders rather than Islamic fundamentalists. Iraq was invaded and Saddam deposed, creating a state of chaos from which ISIL emerged. In Libya we sought, obtained and then abused a UN mandate to "defend civilians", allowing us to achieve what had always been the objective - the removing and killing of Gaddafi. Now Libya is ungoverned and ungovernable, with strong pockets of militant Islamist influence. More recently Cameron tried, and thankfully failed, to obtain parliamentary approval to launch air strikes against the Syrian government. Had he succeeded we would now be fighting alongside ISIL, with the Paris bombers as our allies. It is understandable that people should feel angry over the murderous activities of ISIL and its callous disregard for human life, but the most obvious knee-jerk reaction is seldom the right one. As has already been intimated on this thread we should be examining the ambiguous relationship that certain of our so-called "allies" seem to enjoy with ISIL, as well as the role that Western policy has itself played in the creation of more or less every Islamic fundamentalist group that plies its murderous trade in the region. |