LONDON and Britain’s major cities – presumably that includes Liverpool – are at risk of Paris-style attacks by ISIL, which is why there’s a frenzy to “go get them” by sending warplanes to bomb Syria.
It's a funny old world in politics. Many people hate Tony Blair for taking Britain to war in the Middle East. Now Jeremy Corbyn is under attack for not wanting to take us to war in the Middle East.
Around 30 years ago I left the Labour Party and one of the reasons was I couldn't stand the back stabbing.
Labour promotes itself as a broad church but continues to indulge in civil war.
Our bombs are aimed at buildings. ISIL is a warped idealism, and you cannot bomb ideals
Corbyn was elected by an overwhelming majority of people, bone-fide members of the Labour Party. The reaction from many elected Labour politicians (councillors and MPs) is, to many, quite staggering. Well, actually not that staggering. It has been my belief for a long time that we elect people to serve us (in councils or in Parliament) and once they are elected they cease serving us and instead rule us. That, though, is the nature of democracy.
Today I had a conversation with a close friend who was convinced Corbyn was an idiot for resisting support for bombing. Maybe he is and maybe he ain't, who am I to know?
I gave him my plan for Syria. The UN to assemble the biggest force of troops ever, let's say half a million blue-helmet soldiers. Send them in, in the name of the world - not the US, France, Britain, Russia - but the world. It would be the World-versus-ISIL, Let them flush out ISIL as they sweep through Syria.
It won't happen because the UN is not only toothless, it is gumless, all talk. Instead it agrees to resolutions that countries like the US, UK etc, decide to interpret and use as an official UN sheriff's badge to invade other countries.
Instead of groups like ISIL realising the whole world is against them, they see the enemy as a small collection of western world countries.
Worse still, our bombs are aimed at buildings. ISIL is a warped idealism, and you cannot bomb ideals. ISIL couldn't afford the recruiting campaign we provide to them for free. I have this uncomfortable feeling we are about to screw up again if we are not careful.
Battleground: Jeremy Corbyn in Liverpool in AugustIt’s also become a war of words that could have a major impact on the Labour Party. Corbyn has made it clear he is against Britain bombing Syria, and he makes a strong argument. The massive bombing by the US, France and Russia hasn’t stopped the atrocities.
The bombing debate has detonated another attack on Corbyn’s leadership with another round of backstabbing, aided by some frontstabbing as well.
If those plotting to overthrow Corbyn as leader do manage to succeed, do they really think the peace and tranquillity will return to Labour?
Labour’s grassroots gave their verdict a few months ago on the alternatives to Corbyn, but his staggering victory remains a bitter pill to swallow for some.
We could well see some of the more outspoken critics of Corbyn themselves fighting for their political futures.
Labour has its own war to fight at home; shouldn’t that be its top priority
Although Jeremy Corbyn has made it clear his opposition to Britain sending warplanes over Syria, by agreeing to a free vote for Labour MPs, he has averted a potential civil war in the party, if not a coup to remove him as leader.
The decision also demonstrates that Corbyn listens to his MPs as well as grass roots members, potentially weakening his enemies within the party. The problem for Corbyn supporters is whether the decision at a shadow cabinet meeting in Monday afternoon, merely moves the "Corbyn" question to the back-burner until the next "battle".
