By Faisal Islam, Political Editor
The RAF in Akrotiri, Cyprus, now know that they will soon be taking part in airstrikes against IS in northern Iraq.
MPs have voted overwhelmingly in favour of their deployment; 524 Yes and and 43 Noes in favour of the motion.
At first we expect just six Tornados - already being used for surveillance - to be armed and ready for action.
The result came after a creditable, statesmanlike day-long debate.
But there were some political casualties - Shadow Education Minister Rushanara Ali resigned from the front bench, and Iain McKenzie, an aide to Shadow Defence Secretary Vernon Coaker, was sacked, after abstaining and voting against the motion respectively.
MPs voted overwhelmingly for military action In reality there were two debates. A tightly worded formal debate motion on Iraq, and a shadow debate on Syria.
The PM's personal view, expressed in this debate, was: It would be justified and legal to extend action into Syria. And, in a "humanitarian disaster", it might not require an advance parliamentary mandate.
This muddied the waters a little. Number 10 later clarified that this would have to be a "Benghazi" style imminent massacre.
Given that the US and allies are already bombing IS in Syria, it would hardly come as a surprise. But it did not affect the result in Parliament.
George Galloway was a dissenting voice The main vote's thumping majority was by design.
The PM had sought the backing of Ed Miliband in a phone call from the UN in New York on Wednesday.
The motion was accordingly tightly drafted on tactics (no combat troops) and territory (Iraq only).
But it was not just a consequence of Labour caution, the Liberal Democrats too have been a break on this process.
For Labour's part, Mr Miliband suggested that it would be better to get a UN Mandate for any extension of action to Syria.
Back in the chamber the critiques ranged in from different directions: "The mission creep hasn't even waited until the end of the debate," said George Galloway.
Ken Clarke pointed out that the action was basically symbolic, and involved six planes.
Senior Tory backbenchers including Liam Fox and Andrew Mitchell called for a mandate for airstrikes in Syria.
All this debate, the publication of legal advice, and front bench Labour resignations for late entry to just a part of ongoing military action, that would occur regardless.
So the airstrikes start soon, but perhaps the real significance of today: cementing Britain's changed world role.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Iraq Vote Shows Britain's Changed World Role
Dengan url
http://juarapageone.blogspot.com/2014/09/iraq-vote-shows-britains-changed-world.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Iraq Vote Shows Britain's Changed World Role
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Iraq Vote Shows Britain's Changed World Role
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar