I see that my MP, Thomas Docherty, has accused the SNP members who voted against airstrikes on IS in Iraq of "playing juvenile politics" in the light of "a humanitarian crisis on an unprecedented level in the Middle East".
None of us, including the great majority of our Muslim friends, would see the actions of IS as any other than horrific and violating the most basic ethical code of any religion.
But I wonder if he can explain to us all how a few Tornado jets bombing the areas held by a nomadic if prolific tribal group, who have no headquarters or structure akin to an army, let alone a state, is going to do anything more than kill a great number of people.
Amongst these will inevitably be innocent non-combatants in the areas where IS dominate. As many of Mr Docherty's Labour colleagues and several Conservatives have pointed out, armed incursions by the West in the Middle East have throughout the decades, without exception, made a humanitarian situation very much worse. They have increased religious fanaticism and consequently given further fuel to terrorism. Neither the British Government nor the opposition have given any indication that there are plans to defeat IS that go beyond a succession of bombing raids. If we are really concerned about the appalling humanitarian crisis in the Middle East we would be well advised to heed those voices from various parties in the House of Commons who call for a proper diplomatic solution in conjunction with key nations in the Middle East.
If we need to use airstrikes, let them be, as the one Green MP suggested, employed in dropping humanitarian aid to some of the most desperate victims of the conflict.
Rev Dr Iain Whyte,
14 Carlingnose Point, North Queensferry.
I was disappointed to read that the SNP had caused a "row" at Westminster by not supporting the Prime Minister's desire to bomb a foreign country ("Row as SNP MPs refuse to support air attacks on IS in Iraq", The Herald, September 27).
Twenty-three Labour MPs had voted against their leader's wishes while a further 14 did not attend. The "row" was a transparent political distraction by Scottish Labour, desperately trying to gain some traction after the referendum. They are punch drunk with the loss of their heartlands to Yes, reeling at the implications of English votes for English laws and frantically pretending that all is well with the leadership of Johann Lamont .
The refusal of the Yes camp to quietly go away, the upsurge in political activism, the swelling of the membership of the SNP and the Greens and the SSP have confounded the sterile politics of Scotland, which the Scottish Labour Party has relied on for too long to keep its grip on working-class areas.
James Mills,
29 Armour Square ,
Johnstone.
I feel a deep shame that the Labour Party, of which I am a member, has supported the air attacks on IS. Will it regret the bombing and shelling of civilians and the response by IS to kill yet more from different religions? How much better to have organised mass asylum for them.
But I congratulate the five Scot MPs who had the courage to vote against the Government and the Labour leadership, particularly Iain McKenzie, who was sacked as a parliamentary aide. At least one had the integrity not to put his parliamentary career before his conscience.
For the Scottish MPs who voted for the attacks, I suggest they re-read the life of Keir Hardie, a main founder of the Labour Party, to see what his views were on war. Meanwhile, may I ask the leaders of the Scottish Labour Party to state their position.
Bob Holman,
76, Balgonie Road, Glasgow.
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