4th December 2015 In General By Penelope Wallace

The debate on bombing IS/Daesh in Syria

 

This is a very brief post, because my ignorance is great, and my understanding shallow.

 

I have three thoughts to offer:

 

  1. The absolutely crucial thing (I was particularly aware of this at the time of our intervention in Afghanistan after 9/11) is for all sides in the argument to recognise that it is a very difficult one.  There should be no place for contempt or insult for those who take a different view from one’s own, or for those who honestly admit that they are not sure;

 

  1. IS/ISIL/Daesh seems to be one of several formulations over the last few years of people who hate. Their hatred is directed at the West, and also at any Muslim different from them.  They try to kill those they hate in various ways, and they are alarmingly successful in recruiting.  Military defeat of one of these groups on the ground or in the air in Syria is not going to stop the hate or the killing;

 

  1. The BBC have a page on which you can see how your MP voted. If you want to see the Archbishop of Canterbury’s excellent speech in the debate in the Lords, go to www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/articles.php/5648/archbishop-of-canterburys-speech-on-Syria.

What does anyone else think?

 

Partial, Prejudiced and Ignorant Blogger

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1 Comment

  • Malachi Malagowther

    4th December 2015 at 6:16 pm Reply

    It’s good to see someone giving a balanced and pragmatic commentary without coming down on either side. Ordinary voters have almost no influence in the government’s action. We can only hope that the bombing has some positive outcomes for Britain without causing too much more death, injury and privation for the millions of civilians who want no part in the fighting.

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