Yesterday, I posted the following on my Facebook page:
There is a case in principle for intervention in Syria. But the government today has given me no assurances that it has thought through what happens after the missile campaign.
What would the government do if more missile strikes or if aircraft were needed? What would the government’s response be if it could not ‘contain’ the conflict and Syria escalates it beyond its borders? Iraq and Helmand mutated into something the last government didn’t envisage. We underestimated the amount of time it would take to overthrow Gaddafi. Do we now have the intention, resolve, and resources to see this through if our initial efforts are deemed to be inadequate? Given the cuts to our armed forces, I have some doubts on the latter point.
Missile strikes might achieve what the government wants. Then again they might not. You can’t authorise military action hoping for the best case scenario and not plan for the worst. This was what Tony Blair did. Have we learned anything from the last decade?
Image may be NSFW.
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Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
