Britain's Cameron Pushes Parliament To Approve Syria Strikes

British Prime Minister David Cameron has said he believes Britain should join the international coalition  [US-led coalition] carrying out air strikes against Islamic State (IS) targets in Syria.

Britain cannot "subcontract its security to other countries," Cameron wrote in response to a Parliamentary inquiry that was issued on November 26.

Parliament is set to vote on the proposal next week.

Cameron said British participation in the air strikes would be "an integral part of our comprehensive strategy to degrade" IS and to "reduce the threat it poses to us."

An official with Britain's opposition Labour Party said the party was considering letting its members of Parliament (MPs) vote as they wish on Cameron's proposal to conduct air strikes in Syria.

Speaking on British television, Labour finance spokesman John McDonnell said that "in these sorts of issues of conscience, it is better to allow MPs to make their own minds up."

He added, however, that he personally was "deeply skeptical" about any British involvement in the Middle East, citing "the lessons of what happened in Iraq."

On November 23, Cameron authorized France to use Britain's air base on Cyprus for Paris's own air strikes against IS targets.
 (Based on reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters)
rferl.org
26/11/15
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