Parliament Revolts, Brits to Stay Out of Syria

US Says Vote Won't Stop the War

Britain is officially out of the planned US attacks on Syria today, after a parliamentary vote saw broad rejection of the Cameron government’s call to ignore their lack of evidence and approve the conflict.

The vote was close, but the admission that the British government doesn’t have anything resembling a “smoking gun” of evidence to back their allegations seemed to be a bigger problem for parliamentarians than it was for the prime minister.

Defense Secretary Philip Hammond confirmed that after the vote, the British government will not take part in the initial American attacks on Syria, but officials raised the prospect of holding another vote, potentially next week, if they come up with any actual, real evidence.

US officials expressed “disappointment” that Britain won’t be joining the attack, but said it won’t stop their own plans to strike Syria in the coming days. The Obama Administration has rejected seeking Congressional approval, likely fearing that the US Congress would similarly reject the hasty calls to attack.

French officials are also suggesting that they “need proof” now in a way that they didn’t a few days ago, and this may mean the Obama Administration, once bragging about this being an “international action,” will end up attacking without any partners.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.