PRESSURE is mounting on David Cameron
to allow Britain to join US air strikes on Islamic militants to stop the brutal
ethnic cleansing sweeping Iraq.
As
The UK prepared to ramp up its aid mission to help tens of thousands of
stricken Iraqis, Boris Johnson became the highest profile politician to
publicly call for British military action insisting it’s “time to get
involved”.
The
London Mayor accused the world of “watching a catastrophe unfold” as ISIS
fighters massacre women and children in northern Iraq.
“I
am certain that it is time to get involved, and to support the American-led
operation,” he said.
“We
have to act because this is a humanitarian crisis.”
He
was joined by the former head of the army Lord Dannatt who claimed troops may
be needed “on the ground” in Iraq to help target air strikes.
The
interventions, which pile further pressure on the Prime Minister to return from
holiday to deal with the deepening crisis, came after the former head of the
Australian army, Peter Leahy, warned it could take '100 years' to defeat the
threat from radical Islam.
Professor
Leahy, a leading defence and strategic analyst, said the fight against Muslim
extremists would be "paid in blood" and would require pre-emptive as
well as reactive action.
He
said: "We are in the early stages of a war which is likely to last for the
rest of the century.
“We
must be ready to protect ourselves and, where necessary, act pre-emptively to
neutralise the evident threat. Get ready for a long war.”
Comment:
I
believe we in the UK, have several options in regards into dealing with Isis
·
Supporting
the Americans and the Kurdish Peshmerga with Istar ( Intelligence, Surveillance , Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance)
using RAF and Army units such as Reaper Drones, Sentinel R1 and Shadow R1
Aircraft which could be based in Cyprus,
and SAS assets based in theatre this would also include Hercules and C17’s
for Air Supply and Voyager’s for refueling other aircraft.
·
Using
SAS and other Special Forces to train the Kurdish Peshmerga and also equipping
the Kurdish Peshmerga with better weaponry and vehicles
·
Using
Tornado and Typhoon Aircraft for Air Strikes, and Apache Helicopters for Close
Air Support plus support units
·
Using
all of the above plus “ boots on the
ground “ such as the 3 Commando Brigade,
16 Air Assault Brigade or the Brigade of Gurkha’s plus support units
