The Commons Have Voted Against War With Syria

[Gromit]

David Cameron's plans for war have been rejected in a House of Commons vote tonight. The Hovernment have lost control of its own foreign policy and Dave has been dealt a humiliating defeat, which will embarrass him abroad.

Common sense prevails?

[sandyRoe]

Last time we were the fig leaf that helped cover American aggression. Wasn't a nice position to be in.

[Peter Pedant]

surprised - I was gob smacked...

when did something like this last happen ?

[Zacs-Master]

Are you sure it's that cut and dried Gromit? I, like others who have commented, have reservations.

[jim360]

Why is it common sense to ignore, or to turn a blind eye to, so much suffering anyway?

[ToraToraTora]

Its the lefty way jim, they love to use the plight of people like the syrians to score political points. Still waiting for someone to tell me when they had a vote on going to war, last one of those was in 1942. Still I may have missed something on the news.

[Zacs-Master]

So, Jim, what makes Syria a more worthy case than any other country who kills its own people?

[ToraToraTora]

Mikey wont be pleased!

[ichkeria]

It was obvious from watching the debate that this was going to fail, in fact I'm surprised it was as close as it was!

So, America will go it alone then.

(They haven't voted against "war with Syria" though I think)

[Gromit]

The political fallout from this will be huge. The 'Special Relationship' has been dealt a deadly blow. Possibly the beginning of the end for an already weak Cameron.

[ichkeria]

...and those "cheese eating surrender monkeys" the French :-)

[jim360]

They just had a vote on it tonight. And I'm not trying any point-scoring so you may as well drop that "lefty" rubbish -- indeed, the only major resignation against the party line was from someone on the political left, Labour's Shadow transport minister I believe it was.

The only point I'm trying to score is the not unreasonable idea that we ought to help people if we can... what's so awful and lefty about that?

To answer Zacs -- well, to dodge the question really. But if I had an answer I'd be a politician. As it is, I'm just an idealist on some things, and this is one of them. Is Syria a case any more worthy than others? Not really, but it's probably more urgent. And if you could list the other places I'd probably be inclined to intervene there as well anyway...

The moral of this post is that you should never allow me any role at all in foreign affairs.

[237SJ]

I don`t think so.

[237SJ]

That was to Gromit`s post

[ichkeria]

I don;t agree that the special relationship has been dealt a deadly blow at all.
This was a democratic vote of the House of Commons. The Americans of all people should appreciate that

[penelope2]

It will make little difference to the US, our input would have been miniscule. More interesting, what are the French doing ?????

[Peter Pedant]

T T T - vote on going to war was 1942

are you sure ? we had been at war for three years by that time.
There were debates on the conduct of the war, tho'.

In Amerikee - the whole poiint was to ge the Japanese to attack the US which they did and then Germany declared war on the US as a result of a treaty that the Allies didnt know about.

[Zacs-Master]

Jim, fair enough.

[Gromit]

Ichkeria / Tora Tora Tora

Yes, to clarify, there may still be a war or military intervention. Parliament have decided that the British will not be part of it. We could still make our bases available to the US if they want them, but they are unlikely to want them. Turkey has signed up and has an airbase much closer to Damascus.

[Zacs-Master]

PP - this is what TTT is alluding to
http://ww2today.com/29th-january-1942-winston-churchill-wins-vote-of-confidence
Very different circumstances tho. And a leader with some gravitas and respect.

[douglas9401]

Obama knew as soon as the 'red line' throwaway left his lips that he was about to find himself in the middle of a nightmare.
He'll find it difficult to show what a resolute man of his word he is without inflicting some "regretable collateral damage" in a face-saving firework display.