Emergency Commons debate over Aleppo threatens confrontation with Russia

Last Updated: October 11, 2016By

160904 Commons debating chamber

I don’t know what they hope to achieve.

Economic sanctions are more likely to get Russia to the table than any kind of no-fly zone – and even then it’s only a marginal possibility.

Russia’s strategy is all about luring the western powers into doing something they’ll regret, and it seems Andrew Mitchell is keen to help them in this.

But then, the former Plebgate minister should know better, having fallen all-too-easily prey to his baser instincts on one newsworthy occasion in the past.

By the time you read this, the debate will probably be over in any case.

One can only hope cooler heads than Mr Mitchell’s will have prevailed and better alternatives found.

Western air forces must be willing to confront Russian military jets over the skies of Syria to enforce a no-fly zone and protect the citizens of eastern Aleppo from a bombardment… UK MPs will be told by a former cabinet minister in an emergency three-hour Commons debate on Tuesday.

The intervention by Andrew Mitchell, the former international development secretary, and the granting of the debate itself, will force the UK’s Foreign Office to set out how it intends to respond after Russia’s veto of a UN resolution calling for a ceasefire in eastern Aleppo. The west has been criticised for lacking any leverage over Russia in Syria.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mitchell said: “What we are saying is very clear. No one wants to see a firefight with Russia, no one wants to shoot down a Russian plane.

“But what we do say is that the international community has an avowed responsibility to protect and that protection must be exerted. If that means confronting Russian air power defensively, on behalf of the innocent people on the ground who we are trying to protect, then we should do that.”

The Commons Speaker granted Tuesday’s unusual three-hour emergency debate to give MPs their first chance to discuss the case for a no-fly zone and for fresh punitive measures against Russia, including tougher economic sanctions and action in the international criminal courts.

Source: West must confront Russia over Aleppo, emergency Commons debate to hear | Politics | The Guardian

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10 Comments

  1. Roland October 11, 2016 at 2:48 pm - Reply

    Russia came to the table and the US stabbed them in the back now our little trolls are trying to do the US job for them its very easy the US as to apologise and start acting like real people but then again what have we or the US to do with it Russia was invited in by a legitimately elected goverment we should be getting on the US for supplying arms to terrorist in the middle east

  2. lanzalaco October 11, 2016 at 2:58 pm - Reply

    what nonsense “Russia’s strategy is all about luring the western powers into doing something they’ll regret, ”

    do you have any evidence to support this russian bogeyman nonsense claim ? And I dont mean the propaganda we get in the European press. Actual full statements from Russian officials themselves.

    • Mike Sivier October 11, 2016 at 3:42 pm - Reply

      What Russian official is ever going to make a statement that “our strategy is to get the western powers to make an aggressive move – like, say, trying to enforce a no-fly zone over parts of Syria when we have been invited to operate there and they haven’t – in order to ensure that any military action we take as a result is justified”?
      Be sensible, please. We all know the way the Russians operate.
      This is not to ascribe undue blame to Russia for what is going on in Syria, by the way. The Russians simply understand how propaganda operates and wants there to be no doubt, if hostilities arise.
      We simply don’t know who’s at fault over there because it seems every single news reporter has their own agenda.

  3. Dave Rowlands October 11, 2016 at 3:06 pm - Reply

    So, to make a point, we kill everyone?

  4. nivekd October 11, 2016 at 3:18 pm - Reply

    Ex-banker Thrasher Mitchell knows about successful confrontation with bullies. Just look at how he took on the belligerent might of Britain’s Stasi, armed only with a bicycle pump.

  5. tom October 11, 2016 at 3:20 pm - Reply

    Mike,
    I just came accross this article and i resend my comment.
    Hi Mike,
    Here a video of Mr Bashar interview which may interest you and you be able to post it on your blog, some reel facts from the mouth of the “horse”
    Specially after hearing that man who nicknamed us “the pleb” and today insulting 25 millions of russians dead during the second world war by comparing them to the nazis when it’s the russians who liberated Auschwitz, this man is a disgrace to politic, that made me put this video.
    http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article45628.htm

    • mohandeer October 11, 2016 at 6:01 pm - Reply

      Many thanks for the link and your post.

  6. Dai October 11, 2016 at 4:39 pm - Reply

    Its a failed coupe to get rid of Assad, Russia have trumped the west, so who do we want, Assad or isis, take your pick..

  7. wildswimmerpete October 11, 2016 at 5:10 pm - Reply

    Resorting to international law won’t mean a jot if we all end up as radioactive ash blowing in the wind. Currently the Doomsday Clock stands at three minutes to midnight.

  8. Harry October 11, 2016 at 7:25 pm - Reply

    This is a rather good and fair overview of the events and the timelines that brought us to the current situation:-

    http://journal-neo.org/2016/10/10/silence-of-the-lambs-refugees-eu-and-syrian-energy-wars/

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