Bombing Daesh is not the answer
British motion to attack the terror group cannot be seen as an alternative to a political solution in Syria
The ink wasn’t even dry on the motion passed by the British House of Commons in favour of bombing Daesh (the selfproclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) targets in Syria than four pilots of the Royal Air Force were in the air from their base in Cyprus, their Tornado jet fights closing in on targets below. The indignant haste to kill papered over a parliamentary vote that highlighted deep splits in the opposition Labour Party and represented a victory for Prime Minister David Cameron who, at last, after months of pondering whether he should or shouldn’t, had the Commons’ backing he so badly craved.
The last time Cameron sought approval for military intervention in Syria, he was rebuffed even though there was convincing evidence that Syrian President Bashar Al Assad had used chemical weapons on his own people. Supporters of air strikes argued during more than 10 hours of debate that Britain should answer the call of allies, including France and the United States, to join attacks on the extremist group. Opponents said the United Kingdom had little to add and would be more likely to be a target for terrorists if it joined the attacks.
The vote, which was welcomed by US President Barack Obama, enabled the UK to join nine nations — from Australia to Jordan — that have bombed Daesh in Syria. Domestically, it further bolsters Cameron as he confronts an opposition that is divided.
But bombing Daesh alone won’t bring an end to their reign of terror. If bombing alone was the answer, this terrorist group would have crumbled months ago. Instead, it has shown itself to be capable of maintaining control on the territory it has gained, only retreating in the face of the fiercest ground assaults with coordinated air attacks. There are truths that Cameron needs to recognise: A political solution has to be found for Syria; boots on the ground will be needed to roll back the gains made by Daesh. Whose feet will wear those boots is a far harder question than deciding to unleash Tornado jets and Brimstone missiles. And Daesh is as much an ideology as it is a group — and ideas are much harder to eliminate.