Retaliation must be robust but allow Putin an ‘out’

THE aim of military action in Syria following Douma will be to stop more such outrages.

Even for the cruellest of despots there was no need to use chemical weapons as the area was days from falling to Assad’s troops anyway.

Tomahawk cruise missiles piling into airfields and weapons installations would serve as a violent warning to Assad against further ethnic cleansing and oppression of civilians and rebels. The message will be the West has had enough of state-sponsored slaughter, despite Assad’s claims his troops are only fighting terrorism.

If air strikes go ahead, the US-led coalition including RAF crews and possibly special forces, will have to try to avoid Russian casualties. Britain is under pressure to play a key role, especially following the Skripal poisoning.

Theresa May knows any attack is almost as much a message to Russia as it is to Assad, who gets away with genocide under Putin’s protection.

Any action has to be robust while offering an alternative to escalation. If Putin is backed too far into a corner he may feel forced to be rash.