Like panic-stricken rabbits caught in
the headlights, our political leaders do not appear to know which way to go.Amid the rising tide of horror stories
coming from Iraq, there seems to be little constructive thought emerging from
Western politicians on how to solve the political and humanitarian issues that
confront the country.
The only thing that they do know is
that something must be done. But developing a viable, effective strategy
against the brutal campaign of the Islamic State has, so far, clearly been
beyond their competence.
Although I strongly believe that
military intervention must be instigated only as a matter of last resort and I
firmly opposed the invasion of Iraq in 2003, I am convinced that there is a
powerful moral — and practical — case for intervening now against the Islamic
State.
For what we are witnessing is the
terrible consequences of the so-called Arab Spring, so naively celebrated by
our leaders just a few months ago.
As I have watched and read news reports
from this embattled and disintegrating region, I have reluctantly come to the
conclusion that we must intervene to protect the lives of Iraqis and hold back
the rising tide of the Islamic State.
Stumbling
During my military career, I have been
involved in many interventions that have proved highly successful and were an
enormous benefit to civilians caught up in war. But for such interventions to
succeed, there must be clear direction from the politicians.
Sadly that is lacking as the West’s leaders seem to be stumbling daily
as they try to configure exactly what they want to achieve.
Indeed, I have grave fears that they do
not have a clear idea of what form such military intervention should take. For
it is imperative that before we send so much as one British soldier back to
Iraq, our government’s strategists must decide with absolute clarity and
precision the objective of the mission.
They must also commit sufficient
resources to ensure the job is done with as little risk as is possible to the
lives of our men.
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