Precision bombing was remarkable

AS “surgical air strikes” go the recent raids by the United States, Britain and France were a remarkable demonstration of precision bombing which was frightening in its accuracy.

I hope however, the use of the expression “mission accomplished” by President Trump does not come back to haunt him as it did former President George W Bush when he used the same expression after the invasion of Iraq.

The sectarian, civil war in Syria is in it’s eighth year. The pro-Assad forces with the help of Russia have forced the “rebels” into comparatively small enclaves and there seems to be a real chance that this ghastly conflict will end. One wonders at the anti-Assard forces’ motives when it is apparent that they can no longer win, yet appear to be determined to fight to the bitter end.

Meanwhile, what was once one of the more developed countries in the region has been trashed with millions left homeless and forced to become refugees.

Chemical weapons are indiscriminate and have been described as “the poor man’s nuclear weapons” but it should not be forgotten that many nations either have these or have the ability to produce them.

To claim, as some people have, that chlorine for instance can only come from one source is wrong. The gas is fairly easily produced and has many uses including water purification.

So as Mrs May faces MPs who feel they should have been consulted

before the latest raid on Syria, one is left wondering what was it all about. Was it really about “chemical weapons” or was it a reminder to President Putin not to push his luck too far?

Harry Thomas Neath