Letters to the editor: The case for UK air strikes in Iraq

 
Acting acclaim: Williams receiving his Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Good Will Hunting in 1998 (Picture: AFP/Getty)
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13 August 2014
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Not only is there the ethical argument for Britain to join the US in military intervention in Iraq, since besides a clear case of genocide unfolding it is Blair and Bush’s badly drawn strategy that created this mess. It’s also essential for our credibility there for the RAF to take part and for the UK to be seen to be arming the Kurds.

Leaving the US to conduct such adventures on its own is invariably a disaster. Covert CIA training of Afghan mujahideen in the Eighties helped produce the Taliban and affiliated forces. A similar process has happened with CIA-trained Syrian rebels, some of whom turned into the backbone of IS.

With its strategy of controlling predominantly Sunni areas, there is a strong chance the Islamic State will move against eastern Jordan, where the part-British-trained Jordanian army will need Western support.

Existing rules of engagement cover self-defence by RAF Tornados in reconnaissance roles. Nor is a recall of Parliament necessary to authorise a stepping up of military action. This is a different case to bombing Syria, which would have involved de facto declaration of war on a sovereign state. David Cameron must step forward and show leadership, not hesitation.
Adel Darwish, author, Unholy Babylon

In holding back from endorsing direct British involvement in military action in Iraq, Malcolm Rifkind goes less far than he did when it came to Libya in 2011, an operation that was far more ambitious — we overthrew a government and had no reliable allies within the country — and not prompted by a massacre.

I am puzzled by his suggestion that “this crisis must not be allowed to develop into a conflict between the Islamic State and the West”. The Islamic State has already declared war on us. Either we will fight them at a time of our choosing, or a time that they choose.

The battle in northern Iraq is one between the sane and the mad: we should be prepared both to increase support to the Kurdish forces, and join the US in air strikes if necessary.
Gerard Russell MBE, author: Heirs to Forgotten Kingdoms

President Obama may ignore the constitutional requirement for congressional authorisation of the kind of open-ended operation he has initiated. Rescuing Yazidi refugees is a popular cause in America, especially if it requires no US boots on the ground and leads to no US casualties.

Since neither of those conditions is guaranteed to continue, hard questions need to be asked now by all participating nations. The broader US strategic goal is surely to offer military protection to Iraqi Kurdistan. That could be challenged not only by IS, but by Baghdad, Tehran and Ankara too. And Western military intervention in support of Kurdistan can only muddy the case that Russian military support for Ukrainian separatists is inadmissible.
David C Unger, Adjunct Professor of US Foreign Policy, SAIS Europe

The genius of Robin Williams

I am spending this week talking to men with guns in Donetsk, Ukraine. Reading Robin Williams’s jokes has reignited my belief in common humanity, sorely tested. I was a single dad for a bit, and Mrs Doubtfire helped me through sad times. Sweet man.
John Sweeney, BBC Panorama reporter

I was very lucky to gig with Robin Williams, when he did a surprise warm-up spot for The Prince’s Trust’s show in Kingston. I had to go on after him and was incredibly nervous. He told me about when he was a new act and had to follow a big New York comic, bombing as a result; by comparison, he assured me, my set would be great. The MC announced him, the audience roaring with delight when realising it was the Robin Williams. He blew them away.

So much energy and life: a great actor and, when it came to stand-up, an explosion of humour.
Tiernan Douieb

A tribute to Robin Williams: make Dead Poets Society essential viewing for all teachers, Ofsted inspectors and the Education Secretary.
Stan Labovitch

Antenatal classes are mostly good

We're disappointed Richard Godwin did not have a entirely positive view of his antenatal class and take on board his comments about knitted vaginas and spelling mistakes (August 7).

Nine out of 10 of the 13,000 parents who attended NCT courses in the past nine months rated them good or excellent. We aim to ensure all our practitioners comply with our standards and that courses are regularly observed.

One of Richard’s criticisms is around cost. Given that not all parents can afford to pay, we provide free classes commissioned by the NHS, as well as running courses at discounted rates. We also now offer shorter classes called Essentials, starting from £70.
Belinda Phipps, CEO, NCT

Before praising hospital deliveries, I hope Richard Godwin realises why mortality rates in childbirth were so high in 1700: poor nutrition; terrible sanitation and hospital doctors who didn’t know about hand-washing. Infant mortality substantially decreased during the Second World War as midwives took over attending births while doctors were at war. Medical intervention has its place, but that’s no reason to put down a woman for preferring a home birth.
Martha Lynn

London Muslims feel pity not anger

Ed Husain should take a reality check about Muslim activism. Most people on the streets are moved by pity for Palestinians deprived of a right to a normal life by the Israeli/Egypt siege, not by hatred. The best way to avoid anger would be for the US and UK to press Israel for a just peace. Speaking of hatred, what’s Husain’s take on Eli Yishai, Israeli deputy prime minister, until last year: “We must blow Gaza back to the Middle Ages, destroying all the infrastructure...”?
P Costa

Good commentary from Ed Husain. Why such a gulf between UK Muslims and Muslim Americans, who are noticeably patriotic and tend to oppose Hamas outright while supporting the Palestinian cause? Partly the US immigration system, which attracts the more educated; partly the difference in the pressure to integrate at a local community level.
John Snodley


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