Israel is a de facto US colony, and yes the UK tend to suck up to them. However changing demographics and a more aware world is making the old positions increasingly unsustainable, hence a gradual change of tune from the US and today Ben Wallace has said Israel are going too far.
The Ben Wallace intervention shows what a serious loss he is to front line politics, I hope he is given a suitable position in the next year or two.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67745408
Wouldn't be surprised if Biden/Sunak heard reports from CIA/MI6 who heard whispers from Israel that they think they have gave Gaza a bloody enough nose and are planning on going home soon, and now trying to preempt them to look like they done something.
There'll be a part of it, but also Israel forces killing 3 Israeli hostages by mistake has not helped their own reputation at home either.
Killing hostages who were carrying a white flag with writing in Hebrew. Would the same fate happen to Palestinians who emerged carrying a flag of surrender, I wonder? And would we hear about it?
Not looking too good in the polls? Let's go to war - that'll sort it.
Agree 100%.Not looking too good in the polls? Let's go to war - that'll sort it.
It'd be better if the UK and US leadership focussed their efforts on persuading Netanyahu to stop his murdering, which is the reason why the Houthis are attacking shipping in the first place.
Well you probably typed this on a phone or laptop that have passed through suez, watched the news on a TV that passed through suez, drank a cup of tea with hot water from a kettle that passed through suez....get my drift. While the USA and UK provided the air assets in this operation lots of other countries were involved including Australia and Canada. I agree that in the past some of our interventions in the Middle East have been misguided ,however this action to preserve the shipping lanes we all rely on is well justified.
So are you perfectly happy to let USA do this alone ? You don't want to pay extra for all your goods that would have to be shipped miles away to avoid conflict I assume.
Unfortunately the Suez route is so strategically important that the actions of the the Houthi can't be ignored. Any extended period of disruption will cost economies, i.e. us, in the west so much that it cannot be allowed to happen. I don't particularly like it, and frankly am expecting reprisals at some point, but even though they have got issues with Israel's action in Gaza this does not mean they get to hold world economies up on the basis that boats may, or may not have a "connection" to Israel.
Please don’t let parliament get involved.
The reason the Houthis are attacking shipping is because they are an Iranian proxy and the Iranians want to cause bother. The excuse is Gaza. These attacks have been going on sporadically long BEFORE the current crisis? It has been going on since 2019 in this area and longer in other areas.
because one of our destroyers, in international waters, was fired upon. That is the bottom line. As soon as I saw the media reports earlier this week I knew we would have to retaliate.
Parliament doesn't have to be involved. We don't need a vote in parliament to undertake military action. It is a prerogative power held by the crown ( and exercised by the PM in the name of the crown). Our ship was attacked. Responding in this manner is self defence.
there is a bit of a difference between sending 4 typhoons to bomb an airfield and liberating British citizens on the Falkland islands from a right wing dictatorship!
So why is the UK the only western country getting involved? I find it very suspicious and very disturbing when the UK helps the US military but other western countries do not. It's a clear sign, to me, that the UK is doing the wrong thing.
As well as the points made above about liberating UK territory, Russia invading Ukraine and subsequent UK support didn't do much to help Boris Johnson. Polls narrowed a bit but Labour maintained a lead and Johnson still got ousted just 5 months after the invasion began.
there is multi national involvement that even a brief look at the BBC website would have exposed. Netherlands, Australia, Canada and Bahrain provided support as part of the bombing action.
What should we do when one of our ships is attacked while in international waters undertaking internationally recognised "freedom of the sea" activities? They are there to ensure cargo ships ( civilian cargo ships) are able to sail unmolested in international waters. They aren't there to invade anyone or protect Israel or attack Gaza or any such nonsense.
Basically yes. It just seems funny to me that it's just the US and UK (where have I seen that combination before? Smells very 2003) but I'll reserve judgment on that.
It is hopefully a one off punitive strike that limits the reoccurrence of attacks on shipping - as I said above as soon as it became clear that an RN ship had been targeted a response was unavoidable. I think the response to date is proportionate.
Whatever 'we' did would be wrong for some people. While I struggle to understand the 'rule Britannia ' mob who glorify war. I also struggle to understand the mental gymnastics used by some in situations like this, where clear retaliation is treated as if it's the starting provocation. As you say, what is the response supposed to be when missiles are being fired at commercial shipping.
It's not just those two countries:
(From https://www.theguardian.com/austral...ralia-military-support-yemen-airstrikes-us-uk )
