Syria
‘Jihad!’
I don’t think, so far as I can remember, that I have ever previously found any sympathy with the sayings of top Islamist cleric Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi. But I do… Continue reading
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It looks like we must hope for the best in Syria
Is there not something odd about a Prime Minister talking of getting involved in the Syrian civil war on the very day that another 4,500 British service personnel had their… Continue reading
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Syria crisis: debate turns to shoulda, woulda, coulda on tactics
The debate about the Syrian crisis is now as much about shoulda, woulda, coulda, as it is about what can happen now. Douglas Alexander’s response to the G8 communique this… Continue reading
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G8: leaders agree Lough Erne declaration and Syria communique
Remember that last communique signed at a summit of world leaders, the really challenging one that they’re all worried they will never meet in reality? You don’t? How strange. David… Continue reading
17 Comments A hard rain’s a-gonna fall over Syria
You know what it’s like. It starts getting hotter. Stickier, too. There’s something in the air you can’t quite put your finger on. But you sense it all the same.… Continue reading
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The Worst Argument Yet for Intervening in Syria: If We Don’t, Other Countries Will Snigger At Britain
We should, I suppose, be grateful to Benedict Brogan for his column today examining some of the reasons for why Britain should become more heavily involved in the Syrian civil war.… Continue reading
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Just Give War A Chance: Obama’s Realpolitik Approach to the Syrian Civil War.
Boris Johnson makes a strong case in today’s Telegraph that even if the west wanted to intervene in the Syrian civil war the point at which is was plausible to do so… Continue reading
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William Hague: There are ‘no palatable options’ in Syria
While the G8 begins today with splits already clear on Syria, David Cameron will be aware, as he sits down for talks with world leaders, that the splits in his… Continue reading
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Cameron wants to change the military balance in Syria, but how do you do that without arming the Islamists?
David Cameron and Vladimir Putin have just concluded their pre G8 talks, the main topic of which was Syria. Cameron wants to use the next few days to try and… Continue reading
64 Comments
Will Parliament get a vote on Syria? PM says ‘basically yes’
David Cameron is far more optimistic than Nick Clegg about arming the Syrian rebels: that much has been clear for a while. He explained why he’s optimistic on Sky’s Murnaghan… Continue reading
36 Comments
UK finds ‘credible evidence’ for chemical weapons in Syria. But is there a credible case for arming the rebels?
David Cameron was pressed on Barack Obama’s decision to give assistance to the Syrian rebels when he spoke to journalists in the Downing Street garden this afternoon. He gave a… Continue reading
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Syria: Assad’s axis of evil
A few days ago in northern Aleppo, 14-year-old Mohammad Qataa was shot dead by armed fighters who accused him of blasphemy. The Free Syria Army denied any connection to the… Continue reading
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After Obama’s intervention, will level playing fields in Syria become level killing fields?
Now that Barack Obama has decided to arm the ‘good’ rebels in Syria, it’s more likely than ever that Britain will follow suit. The G8 summit next week in Northern… Continue reading
23 Comments
Cameron wins PMQs… or does he?
Well, that was an easy Prime Minister’s Questions for David Cameron, wasn’t it? Sometimes the PM just turns up for work and knocks it out of the park. It helped,… Continue reading
33 Comments
A mass grave and a refugee camp for Syrians – Iraqi Kurdistan teaches that military intervention can work
Two experiences stand out from my recent visit to the Kurdistan Region in Iraq: meeting refugees fleeing Syria at the Domiz refugee camp; and seeing a weeping son uncovering the… Continue reading
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Syria: What has changed to make western intervention a necessary or realistic policy?
Peter Oborne is back in his David-Cameron-is-not-Disraeli-he’s-mad mode this week. He accuses the Prime Minister of losing the plot over Syria. As always, the ghosts of Iraq stalk this debate… Continue reading
37 Comments The Syrian quagmire
What will it take before the UK decides to supply the Syrian rebels with arms? Many are cautious about whether this measure would really make the conflict any better, but… Continue reading
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Why Cameron’s warning on Syria leaves me feeling nervous
David Cameron’s Commons statement today contained two blunt warnings. In a significant escalation of the argument over communications data, he warned that ‘we will suffer’ if we don’t make progress… Continue reading
74 Comments
Is it time to aid Turkey’s protestors?
Is it now time for William Hague to send money, and possibly arms, to the rebels now participating in what we might call a Turkish Spring? There have been violent… Continue reading
131 Comments Syria: when ‘red lines’ make the headlines
What is a red line, exactly? We’ve been hearing a lot of talk about ‘red lines’ from our politicians in recent weeks in relation to Syria, chemical weapons, and western… Continue reading
12 Comments