In tears

[G1veMeStrength]

Fucking parliament. You utter bastards. You're going to kill people and it won't stop anything.

It's always been our answer. We knew that after WW2. Naively we thought that they wouldn't dream of doing it again.

Well I've been disgusted by the comments on social media given to our local MP who voted for the air strikes like so many others. He gave a thoughtful, detailed explanation and is still attacked. Disgusting, shameful, personal attacks that civilised people wouldn't dream of. What is the point? Haven't we enough enemies without turning on each other? Enough unpleasantness (yes including bombs) without adding to it in this way?

I am certain that Joe Public doesn't have access to all the information and intelligence that our representatives in parliament have, and why should we? Too much in the public domain and it gives the enemy the upper hand.

I also resent the inference that our highly skilled RAF are being accused of killing innocent civilians when they actually haven't, and might not anyway (let us hope). There is a job to do, let's do it, and support those who have been given the job. Pointless whining helps nobody.

Sitting back and doing nothing will allow daesh to flourish in a foreign land. Don't think it won't spread without intervention. Do we want a world where our grandchildren are denied the freedoms we so cherish? Well then let's try and sort it now please.

Felt I should pop back on to say thanks, it is very heartening to have so many nice things said to me after all the 'get a grip' remarks. I'd rather be compassionate than not.

We should just leave all those people out there sunni v shia etc to kill each other. It seems to be what they like to spend their time doing rather than live in peace.

Yes, I don't think destroying their infrastructure so Assad can assert power is a great move. Also if the 10m displaced Syrians went back and actually fought for their own nation and peace they might do better. I know some out there fight very hard including the kurds but a lot have just disappeared. It was the same with much of the Iraq Army when the US left. In the UK in WWII we would have fought to the death on home soil.

So the millions of displaced Syrians are spineless and should just man up and fight? Sure!!

"Sitting back and doing nothing will allow daesh to flourish in a foreign land"

REALLY?? I am really struggling with the black and white attitude of so many posters who think our choice is airstrikes vs nothing. Seriously, who has said we should sit back and do nothing?? Find me one person.

There are many other military strategies the govt could take alongside or instead of bombing Syria which the govt has not mentioned to my knowledge.

I personally don't agree with the bombing based on the info we have on the govt's strategic approach (or lack thereof).

It's hardly giving away military secrets to confirm they will work with /put pressure on others to aim to cut off trade in oil, arms etc and secure borders is it.

I believe the govt will benefit from airstrikes in terms of having a place at the table, and I suppose that may not be all bad, for them...

As for Syrian displaced/ refugees, they have left mostly because of Assad not Daesh, so why would they go back when there is no support for them??

Rage. They are bigger now than a year ago yes? When they were bigger than the previous year?

What are these alternative strategies you mention in your third paragraph?

Mimishimi - a good war is the easiest way to fix an economic depression, after all..

Oh balls, im replying to a. Comment six miles upthread!!

ISIS stated aim is to spread throughout the world.Is that what you want?

Brioche: That may be the case but we (the West) invaded their countries and our immigration policies, for the sake of growth and to 'get back' at the left and certain elements who became not so mysteriously wealthy after WW2, have let them in. They could equally, and correctly, claim that we seek to impose our way of life on them and spread death/destruction around the world. ISIS and our own war machine are two sides of the same coin.