Andrew Dismore

Dear Editor,

I share the outrage people feel at the unfolding horror we are witnessing today

in Syria. The country appears to be at risk of disintegrating as a nation state,

with sectarian identities entrenching, communities shattered and the population

brutalised.

To my mind, the correct time for intervention would have been two years ago, before

Al Qaida and the other jihadist groups became so involved in the fight against the

Assad regime. Now, the risk is that if arms are supplied to the opposition, they

will fall into the wrong hands. Other action, like missile or air strikes, may also

strengthen the position of the jihadists, as against the secular resistance, who were

the predominant group when the conflict started. A key risk is making sure any

intervention does not lead to retaliation against Israel in an attempt to broaden the

conflict. Such an escalation would be very dangerous indeed.

Labour called for a UN Security Council Resolution as a crucial way of pressing

for the widest possible international support. Second, we called for compelling

evidence to be published about the perpetrators of any attack. Third, we called for

any authority granted by parliament for military action to be time limited, and finally,

we called for the potential consequences for the region to be considered.

Things have moved on since the vote in Parliament and with hindsight the position

Labour adopted was correct. The weapons inspectors’ report is imminent. Further

US/Russia/UN diplomatic talks, to be backed by a UN security council resolution,

have borne fruit with a plan to remove Assad’s chemical weapons with the Russians

pressuring Assad to comply.

There are no easy options to end the violence in Syria but we have seen the

proposal for military action was premature as diplomacy had not been exhausted, as

events have shown.

Andrew Dismore

Labour prospective parliamentary candidate for Hendon