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The special relationship and the difference a day makes
Suddenly, politics is before and after ‘last Thursday’. Before last Thursday, Britain was America’s poodle, prepared to pay the ‘blood price’ for our special relationship, riding pillion passenger to...
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Britain can increase investment by slashing military spending
The momentous decision by parliament on 29 August not to participate in a military attack on Syria raises important points both for the trends in British politics and for economic policy. The Socialist...
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Syria: three questions for Vince Cable
And so, a pointless war against Syria has been averted – for now. Not that you would think it as BBC News has been in overdrive since Thursday’s vote. Bulletins jammed with Syrian war porn – classy....
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Syria vote: celebrate but don’t forget to evaluate
After the Commons recall debate on Syria some commentators seem to have let their joy at seeing Cameron defeated get a little out of hand.. The defeat was important and all of us on the left are hoping...
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The spectre of Iraq
When commentators claimed after last week’s parliamentary vote that Iraq had played a key role in motivating MPs to vote against military intervention, it was an important public acknowledgment of the...
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The West is too riddled with self interest to lead on Syria or other world...
Obama’s key line that the attack on Syria would be a short, surgical strike was designed to win over those who were appalled at Assad’s (virtually certain) use of chemical weapons and wanted him to be...
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Why climate change helped trigger the Syrian civil war
Watching events in Syria you can’t help but be thoroughly disturbed. Massacres, chemical weapons usage, millions displaced, mass destruction and a death toll approaching an estimated 100,000. Although...
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Is Russia now in charge of Middle East policy?
The US has been comprehensively outmanoeuvred over Syria. First, the Commons vote induced Obama to seek a vote in Congress to shore up his authority to take military action against the background that...
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Has Ed Miliband given the world a chance for peace?
It is worth recalling the words of Ed Miliband about Syria in his recent conference speech The other week I faced [a] decision about whether the country should go to war. The biggest decision any...
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There are big lessons to be learnt from the Iran deal
The US-Iran agreement, albeit temporary, may well be the diplomatic coup of the decade, or indeed the biggest peaceful shifting of the tectonic plates since the last World War in the most dangerous...
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Unravelling a century of imperialism in Iraq
William Hague has announced there will be no new British military involvement in Iraqand the PM himself gave a guarded answer when asked why he voted for the war in 2003 — something along the lines of,...
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Cameron, over-hasty as always on rhetoric, has to retreat over action on ISIS
Cameron on Friday was waxing bellicose about a “greater and deeper threat to our security than we have known before” because of ISIS. Compared with Hitler in 1939? Compared with the IRA during the...
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So what are UK objectives in Syria?
Here we go again. Cameron’s latest declaration from the NATO summit is clearly hinting his intention of joining the US on air strikes against ISIS positions in Syria as well as in Iraq. This stance is...
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UK must not be sucked into yet another war in Iraq
After the Scots’ referendum, an even bigger issue is now rapidly coming down the line. As the US is being dragged remorselessly into what Obama likes to call a counter-insurgency campaign in Iraq-Syria...
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How can ISIS be stopped?
Today’s debate in the Commons brings to a head the issue of what action should be taken to stop Islamic State in its murderous rampage across northern Iraq and Syria. It is not this time another...
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Iraq vote: rebels and abstainers
This afternoon a vote was taken in the House of Commons to approve the use of air strikes (but not ground troops) in Iraq (but not Syria). This was approved by 524 votes to 43, with the bulk of the...
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Parliament debates bombing Iraq
Reading the Hansard record of Friday September 26th’s debate on going to war, one is struck by the paucity of voices raised against this folly. Caroline Lucas, the sole Green MP and George Galloway,...
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Western policy in Syria is bankrupt. But that doesn’t stop the aerial attacks
The US has been bombing Syria for over a year. Russia began this September, as did France. Turkey has strafed targeted ISIS positions in the country and Israel has also conducted air strikes on Syrian...
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Post-Paris massacre poll shows UK public oppose Syria airstrikes – MPs take note
The vast majority of the British public do not believe that British airstrikes on Syria are the right response to the Paris massacre, says a poll published today. Nor do the public believe past...
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Labour’s shadow cabinet must not split the party over going to war
The shadow cabinet yesterday discussed David Cameron’s plan to go to war in Syria. A majority of its members favour backing airstrikes in spite of the four conditions laid down by Labour’s conference...
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