Duas áreas de debate atual estão me irritando. Um é o que fazer com a Síria, o outro o que fazer sobre representar o terreno central na política britânica.
Os problemas são totalmente diferentes, mas eles têm isso em comum; Fútil, até desonesto, tocando à mão por políticos. A Síria é mal servida pelo açougueiro Bashar-Al-Assad. Ele é o principal sobrevivente da turbulência deste século no Oriente Médio que viu a remoção de muitos dos ditadores da região. No mundo brutal da política do Oriente Médio, foi um erro depor esses ditadores que, pelo menos, garantiram a estabilidade em seus países. O resultado foi o caos sangrento e a ascensão do chamado Estado Islâmico. Quando o massacre se tornou mais difundido, o presidente Barack Obama alertou Assad a não cruzar a "linha vermelha" usando armas químicas. Eles foram usados, e os EUA não fizeram nada. O Parlamento do Reino Unido votou em 2013 contra ataques aéreos na Síria. Irã. Com John Bolton como o novo consultor de segurança nacional americano, tudo é possível. Enquanto isso, o Ocidente precisa decidir quais são suas linhas vermelhas reais em relação à Rússia, China e Irã. Acho suas entrevistas frustrantes. Eles começam com uma excelente análise do estado polarizado da política britânica com o vasto fundamento central não representado. Muitos políticos centristas ficam felizes em informar a mídia por cerca de 50 milhões de libras disponíveis para um novo partido e quão importante é que os eleitores tenham outra escolha além do Brexit Tory ou estatista Corbyn. Mas você nunca vê nomes anexados a essas histórias. Downtown in Business
SYRIA: ASSAD WILL WIN
It gives me no pleasure to write that sub heading. Syria is ill served by the butcher Bashar-al-Assad. He is the main survivor from this century’s turmoil in the Middle East that saw the removal of many of the region’s dictators. In the brutal world of Middle East politics, it was a mistake to depose these dictators who, at least, ensured stability in their countries.
The West was heavily involved in Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan in the early years of this century motivated by securing oil supplies, fighting terrorism or introducing western style democracy depending on your point of view. The result was bloody chaos and the rise of the so called Islamic State.
This led to a complete volte face by the West as people in America and Britain understandably questioned why blood and treasure was being wasted on hopeless causes.
When opponents of Assad in Syria rose up and called on the West to help, we did little. As the slaughter became more widespread, President Barack Obama warned Assad not to cross the “red line” by using chemical weapons. They were used, and the USA did nothing. The UK Parliament voted in 2013 against air strikes in Syria.
So, intervention doesn’t work, and the current cautious policy of the West has been an invitation to Russia and Iran to fill the vacuum in Syria.
The sporadic threats and interventions of President Trump are too late, incoherent, will prolong the conflict and could lead to a global confrontation with Russia and Iran. With John Bolton as the new American National Security advisor anything is possible.
Of course, there should be peace talks but, Assad is going to win, so the earlier the violence ends the better. Meanwhile the West needs to decide what its real red lines are in relation to Russia, China and Iran.
And by the way the collapse of the EU, as forecast by an academic this week, would not help with stability.
THE CENTRE PARTY CHIMERA
Tony Blair is never off the airwaves these days. I find his interviews frustrating. They start with an excellent analysis of the polarised state of British politics with the vast centre ground unrepresented.
Then he is asked to take the logical step of helping to form a new party and he goes all coy concluding that he is staying with Labour.
He is not alone. Many centrist politicians are happy to brief the media about £50m being available for a new party and how important it is that voters have a choice other than Brexit Tory or Statist Corbyn. But you never see names attached to these stories.
So, my message to Tony and his friends is either stop this self-indulgent chatter, get on with forming a new party or work with the Lib Dems with whom you have few real differences.
Follow me @JimHancockUK
