Syria airstrikes: Cameron wins vote by majority of 174 – live

[brooklynite]

Source: The Guardian

Syria airstrikes: Cameron wins vote by majority of 174.

Defence sources saying RAF bombers currently targeting Iraq expected to start targeting Isis in Syria tomorrow

Today’s debate will be remembered for Hilary Benn’s extraordinary wind-up speech, in which he powerfully (but politely) challenged his own leader and asserted Labour’s claim to the party of activist, hard-edged internationalism. The Nato tradition in the party has always been much more dominant than the pacifist tradition and Benn reached back into history, and to Labour’s role in the creation of the United Nations after the second world war, to justify supporting airstrikes. It is very, very rare for MPs to applaud in the Commons but they applauded Benn because they recognised that this was something special (just as they applauded Robin Cook when he spoke against the Iraq war in 2003). Even before today people were speculating about Benn as an alternative party leader; after tonight that chatter will only grow louder.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2015/dec/02/syria-airstrikes-mps-debate-vote-cameron-action-against-isis-live

[Ford_Prefect]

1. I'm reminded of the "Bomb them into the stone age", remarks directed at Iran in 1979.

It makes no more sense now than it did then, even though the protagonists are now different. If bombing Daesh worked it would have done so before now. This is about revenge and the arrogance of the elites in Britain. It makes no sense otherwise and is exactly the response Daesh wanted.

Why not instead insist on a real plan to cut off Daesh funding from Saudi and other outside sources. Mr. Cameron could do with a bit of patience and actual diplomacy there.

And what about a true boycotting of oil and other goods sold out of Daesh controlled territory? Turkey needs to be brought to account on that one along with arms and ammunition sales to the same.

[Turborama]

2. His father must be spinning in his grave!

[enlightenment]

3. Yep.

On one hand, I'm glad he's not alive to see this - on the other, if he were still around he'd be kicking some serious arse on floor of the Commons.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

4. The Blairites are alive and well in the Labour Party

[T_i_B]

5. In the Parliamentary Labour Party at least

There's a big divide between the PLP and grassroots activists, which is at the heart of Labour's current division and dysfunction.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/dec/02/airstrike-backing-labour-mps-receive-threats-and-deselection-warnings