MP: Parliament’s recall suggest military action possible by the weekend
Today John Baron MP has welcomed the recall of Parliament announced by No. 10, but believes key questions will need answering in Thursday’s debate. John highlights the danger of armed intervention making a bad situation much worse, and stresses the importance of verification.
John said:
“Atrocities have been committed by both sides – there are no easy answers. But the danger is we risk making a bad situation very much worse. Syria is a proxy war being fought at several levels: Sunni vs Shia; Iran vs Saudi Arabia; the West vs Russia and China. Western intervention, particularly without UN approval, risks extending the conflict well beyond Syria’s borders.”
“The timing of Parliament’s recall clearly suggests that military action is possible by the weekend. But foreign policy decisions should be based on hard evidence and then grounded in legitimacy. The debate on Thursday needs to resolve key questions.”
“Verification is important. There have been claims and counter claims about the use of chemical weapons on both sides. Nothing has ever been verified. Scepticism is understandably running high. Furthermore, a balanced approach rather than a pre-determined agenda is required – many suggest the contrast in the West’s response when its then ally Saddam Hussein gassed his own people is notable.”
“International law is subjective. Many believe the closest we have is the UN. To intervene without a UN resolution risks adverse consequences further down the line.”
Ends
Word Count: 257
Date: 27th August 2013
Notes to Editors
John secured the debate in July which confirmed through a vote that no military action could take place without the consent of Parliament.
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