Friday 30 August 2013

Syria : We must intervene

I have no preference as to who should govern in Syria. It is not my place, it is not our place, to decide for a people who should lead them and any questions of British self-interest should not and cannot influence our thoughts.

However, there comes a time when the issue we are faced with is not one of sovereignty, it is one of protecting humanity. On the intelligence we have, or at least that we are informed of, the Assad regime has begun to use chemical weapons against civilians. He is massacring his people. This isn’t hypothetical; its real and its happening right now. There can be absolutely no doubt that this crosses a red line and as a nation that believes in the rule of law and the sanctity of human life we cannot ignore it.

I know that our nation bears the scars and the burdens of our recent commitments to Iraq and Afghanistan. I know that parents have lost sons and children have lost their mothers. We have grieved for them, and we remember them. Every day. However we cannot withdraw from the world because it has got too rough, because the risks have got too high. When we are left with no option we must remain willing and committed to the use of force.

The vote yesterday showed us that the nation is torn and we are afraid of becoming embroiled in a battle that does not have an end point or an immediate impact on our daily lives. I understand those concerns and I share them. But I also share our nations belief in basic laws of man. The part of us that says we will not allow a bully to butcher his people. The part of us that compels us to defend those who cannot defend themselves. And right now those brave parts of us have to override our fears.

I don't want war. I don't want our forces to be in harms way. But the vote yesterday was wrong. Civilians are being massacred with weapons that have long been banned by international law. Our members of parliament must be led by their consciences and decide whether their fears matter more to them than the lives of the civilians of Syria.

I pray that they overcome those fears, anything else is cowardice and a betrayal of our humanity.

1 comment:

  1. It appears politicians only see action by having troops on the ground which is why is it was voted out. It is not a yes or no answer but rather the possibilities to assist the people, this is what the government is missing.

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