Madmen spoiling for a world war
IT’S a case of damned if we do and damned if we don’t. Assad is a monster guilty of committing war crimes and the Russians back him, so that makes them complicit.
The world should not stand idly by and allow the use of banned chemical weapons – but, by the same token, there are fears about escalation.
The isolated strikes launched after Assad’s last chemical attack have not deterred him, but no one wants another Iraq. And Russia has threatened to hit back at any missile strikes by the USA. The world is in peril but with the likes of Trump and Putin running the show, what chance is there of a solution? Bill Franklin, Salford I am no fan of Putin or Assad, but equally I question the motives of the UK and US governments, both of which have problems because of their unpopular domestic policies. Have we learned nothing from the ill-advised war in Iraq? The public must not be fooled into thinking we are fighting a just war, because in Syria it is conceivable Western troops could end up fighting alongside extremist elements opposed to Assad. How stupid would that be? Derek Ray North London Vladimir Putin is spoiling for a fight with the West as he wants to settle an old score for losing the Cold War, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the fall of the Iron Curtain. This madman must be contained. Steve Goulding, Sheffield
The war drums are beating once again as they did before the Iraq conflict. When that eventually went sour, those shouting the loudest for scapegoats had been the same ones who called for military action.
With regard to Syria, the horse has bolted – sad as that may be. We can only wait for the inevitable outcome and then help to put the pieces back together. Intervention at this time will only lead to a global war which would be catastrophic, given that today’s world leaders are mentally unstable. Noel Beresford Chesterfield, Derbys
Yet again President Assad has launched a chemical attack on his own men, women and children with the aid of his partner in crime, Russia. It is time that he was made to pay a price for his inhumane actions.
The USA and Nato should destroy the airfields used to launch these attacks before this monster gets another chance to carry out more of his atrocities. Ken Pennington Stalybridge, Cheshire Little wonder that Russia is backing a regime murdering its own people. After all, it has got a long history of doing the same. To use chemical weapons against innocent men, women and children is an act that the civilised world just cannot ignore. It is time to isolate Russia from the rest of the planet with mass embargoes and bring them to heel. Roger Grant Thurnscoe South Yorks If Theresa May supports Trump in military action against Assad in Syria, all it will do is create more extremism which is what happened after Iraq. This will mean more innocents getting hurt. Kevin Moran South London