When Britain’s parliament approved its involvement in a war against ISIS, they made it clear that they were only approving airstrikes in Iraq, and explicitly ruled out any strikes in Syria without a new resolution. Prime Minister David Cameron initially sought to circumvent that by “embedding” planes with Canadian units who were already attacking Syria, but now is looking to get parliament to formally approve the escalation.
The move is seen as risky, with tepid support among his own party meaning he’s going to have to rely heavily on opposition Labour MPs, and a failed vote would be a particular embarrassment at a time when Cameron is trying to present himself as ratcheting up the conflict dramatically.
This has Cameron pressuring Labour MPs to defy their leader, Jeremy Corbyn, who is opposed to the conflict and warns increased British involvement will only fuel extremism and ultimately benefit ISIS.
Cameron is also under fire from all sides in the parliament for claims last week that there are 70,000 moderate fighters willing to ally with Britain, a figure for which he claims secret evidence but which even members of his own party called preposterously high.
would the average of 70,000 free Syrian forces turn into 70 good willing moderate forces willing to fight Assad and 69970 ISIS terrorists ready to fight everyone anyone any where including Paris France
As it is here with the Clown Car party who are threatening to nominate one of the extremist clowns, please, do it. And when the vote doesn't go your way, the Parliament may even circumscribe your "embedding" ploy with the other American lapdogs in Ottawa.
For a conflict that the PTB keep saying we must engage in, at all cost, there seems to be a paucity of demonstrable justification. And they surely don't want to talk about how we all got to this point – even going so far as a not-so-leading candidate forgoing use of his family name in his campaign because, well, it's tainted baggage.
Britain had better be careful. Labour let in millions of Muslims. The U.K. could find itself under attack at home.
At least Britain still has a democracy left. Their Parliament actually get to vote on going to war. No such niceties are required any more in the US dictatorship.