UK Parliament Votes to break International Law by Bombing Syria

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Source: PressTV

British Prime Minister David Cameron says a one-day debate will be held in parliament on Wednesday on whether his country will commence airstrikes against Daesh in Syria.

"I can announce that I will be recommending to cabinet tomorrow that we hold a debate and a vote in the House of Commons to extend the airstrikes," he said, referring to Britain's current air campaign as part of a US-led coalition against purported Daesh positions in Iraq.

"I believe there's growing support across parliament for the compelling case there is to answer the call from our allies, to act against Daesh in Syria and in Iraq," he said in a televised statement on Monday.

Cameron also denied a request made earlier by UK Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn to hold a full two-day debate on the subject.

“As has happened previously a one-day debate would inevitably lead to important contributions being curtailed. It is incumbent on us all to ensure the country feels there has been the fullest parliamentary discussion of what you have rightly described as a highly complex situation,” Corbyn wrote in a letter to Cameron.

Meanwhile, Corbyn told members of parliament that they are free to vote on the subject of bombing Syria – a move that strays from a tradition in which British party leaders dictated what members should vote during major debates.

Since August 2014, the United States and some of its allies have been conducting airstrikes against what they say are Daesh positions in Iraq. Since last September, some members of the US-led coalition have also been pounding purported Daesh positions inside Syria without any authorization from Damascus or a UN mandate.

However, the airstrikes have not dislodged the Daesh terrorists and have reportedly caused huge collateral damage and civilian deaths.

UK Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn offers his MPs free vote on Syria airstrikes

Source: Press TV

UK opposition Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn (L) and British Prime Minister David Cameron attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall, London, on November 8, 2015. (AFP photo)

The Labour Party has confirmed that it will offer its MPs a free vote on the Tory government’s proposal for UK airstrikes against ISIL terrorists in Syria.

The controversial decision to extend military operations against ISIL from Iraq to Syria came at a shadow cabinet meeting. The party's leader Jeremy Corbyn and most of its members are opposed to bombing. They believe airstrikes in Syria could deteriorate the situation and increase support for ISIL.

However, some Labour lawmakers want to back Prime Minister David Cameron's call for more bombing. Corbyn has requested a two-day debate on the issue in the House of Commons.

In his letter to Cameron, Corbyn has asked for more details of the planned airstrikes.

“As of this morning, we have not had a clear proposal from the government on when you plan to bring forward a motion to the house on airstrikes in Syria or on arrangements for the debate…In the view of the opposition on a matter of such critical importance there must be full and adequate time for any debate in the house and only a full two-day debate would ensure time for all members who wish to participate to be able to do so,” Corbyn wrote to Cameron

The decision is seen as a last-ditch effort by Corbyn aimed at averting the threat of a mass shadow cabinet walkout.

The Labour Party has already announced that the official party line will be a "strong anti-bombing" position, which is backed by the membership.

Everything the West has done was to create ISIS’ – John Pilger

Source: Russia Today

Award winning journalist and author, John Pilger talks to Afshin Rattansi about how Washington, London and Paris gave birth to ISIS-Daesh. Plus we examine the media's role in spreading disinformation ahead of a vote in Parliament for UK bombing of Syria. Afshin looks at the Autumn Statement and why in a time of high alert we are cutting the police force and buying drones.

Cameron likely to go ahead to bomb Syria’ - Ex-UK MP Galloway

Source: Russia Today

David Cameron says he wants to bomb Syria, and Ex-UK MP George Galloway thinks he will probably go ahead and join the anti-ISIS operation.

2013 - British parliament votes against military action in Syria

Source: Press TV

The vote comes after a hot debate in the House of Commons on how Britain should respond to an alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria. During the debate, Prime Minister David Cameron urged the M-Ps to approve military action against the Syrian government. Cameron made the call despite his admission that there was no definitive evidence Damascus had carried out chemical weapons attacks against the Syrian people. The opposition, however, rejected Cameron's proposal and stated that Britain should wait for the U-N team of chemical weapons inspectors to finish their investigation in Syria.

2015 - Don't bomb Syria - George Galloway

Source: Stop the War Coalition

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Additional Information

Turkish military: PM shipping arms to militants in Syria – (2015 Jan 21)

Press TV correspondent Serena Shim killed near theTurkey-Syria border for exposing Turkey’s government supplying Terrorists – (2014 Oct 19)

The Syrian War What You're Not Being Told – (2013 – Sept 03)

Putin: Arming Syria militants could one day end up in Europe – (2013 – Jun 18)

Assad: Erdogan not telling the truth – (2013 Apr 03)

Turkey pushes to arm foreign-backed insurgents in Syria – (2013 – Mar 17) A Serena Shim report

Vote for cuts or leave: UK PM to Greeks

Cameron warns Greeks against voting for anti-austerity left-wingers.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/05/22/242569/greeks/

British Prime Minister David Cameron has warned the Greek people that they should leave the euro zone if they vote for anti-austerity left-wingers.

Speaking of a new legislative election in Greece which is to be held on 17 June 2012, Cameron said Greece’s new round of elections must be a referendum on whether the country should stay in the euro zone, reported The Sun.

“Greece is going to vote - it has to be absolutely clear there is a choice,” said Cameron.

“They can vote to stay in the eurozone and meet their commitments or they can vote to give up on their commitments and in effect give up on the eurozone. This must be a moment of decisiveness,” he added.

The new legislative election is to be held after a coalition government was unable to be formed in Greece following the election in May.

The Sun described Cameron’s message as “the toughest language yet from any EU leader.” Cameron’s tough warning came as British Secretary of State for Justice said the wrong Greek vote could hit Britain hard and the UK is “heavily exposed” to potential problems.

UK must stand by spending cuts: UK PM

David Cameron, British Prime Minister

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/240234.html

British Prime Minister David Cameron has said Britain must stick to its tough austerity measures while election results in Europe show people do not think austerity is the only way out of financial woes.

While the results of local elections in Britain last week showed British voters were angry with the coalition government’s economic policies, Cameron said he would not waver from Britain’s spending cuts.

According to excerpts of his speech, Cameron is later to say repairing Britain’s dire economy “was and remains our guiding task and in these perilous times it's more important than ever for Britain that we stick to it”.

British Chancellor George Osborne has announced 23 billion of additional spending cuts through 2016, extending a planned four-year program of about £81 billion of cuts to government spending

Analysts have warned that the most severe elements of the British government’s four-year budget trimming program are just emerging, meaning public dissent is expected to grow with living standards declining.

Cameron’s commitment to his austerity regime comes as the results of the French presidential election and the Greek parliamentary elections indicate people believe in French President-elect Francios Hollande’s idea that “austerity can no longer be the only option”

Leaders to relaunch UK shaky coalition

UK premier David Cameron and his deputy Nick Clegg (from R)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/240138.html

The British Premier David Cameron and his deputy Nick Clegg are to stress their commitment to the coalition and the programme they agreed in 2010, an effort being overshadowed by infighting between their parties.

Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders have come under fresh pressure to adopt more distinctive policies after suffering widespread losses in last week's local elections in Britain.

Meanwhile, Simon Hughes, the Liberal Democrats' deputy leader, said yesterday Conservative MPs think they were "born to rule", but British voters showed the contrary.

The two party leaders’ show of unity in Essex today is aimed at convincing voters the Coalition government has not lost sight of its mission to clear the nation's deficit.

Passing the buck for the Coalition’s current financial failure on to the previous Labours government, Cameron and Clegg are also expected to insist that there is no turning back on their programme of economic austerity.

However, the UK Labour leader Ed Miliband, who has also traveled to Essex, will dismiss the two leaders’ criticisms, saying, “If David Cameron wants to know why he had a bad night last week, the answer is simple - the economic failure of this Government, compounded by its unfairness.”

British PM could face ‘vote of no confidence’ at parliament

Britain's Conservative MP Nadine Dorries

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/240004.html

Disastrous council election results in Britain are piling growing pressure on Prime Minister David Cameron with Tory rebels signaling a ‘vote of no confidence’, local media reported.

Outspoken critics from within his own ranks have already launched a string of verbal attacks on Cameron and his coalition government with Conservative rebel Nadine Dorries, MP for Mid-Bedfordshire, saying that there was a strong chance the Prime Minister would be out by Christmas, British media reported.

“According to the rules of the backbench 1922 Committee, in order for David Cameron’s position as leader to be challenged, the chairman of the committee needs to receive 46 signatures from Conservative MPs to signal a vote of no confidence”, Nadine Dorries MP wrote in an article for the Daily Mail.

“I would guess that those signatures are already coming in and will reach 46 by Christmas”, she said adding that “I understood this to mean 15 percent of the Tory backbenchers, but I suppose it comes to the same amount of people”.

“They were really angry about the referendum debate on the EU when David Cameron said we would have a referendum in/out of the EU before the election. He has since reneged on that promise as well as repealing the Human Rights Act where we are not able to kick out undesirables from our country. He should never get elected in any constituency again, he is a liar and a fraud”, said the MP for Mid-Bedfordshire.

“While Britons scream out for strong policies on law and order, a stable NHS and an in-out referendum on Europe to cut us free from basket-case Southern European economies, Cameron makes gay marriage and Lords reform his priorities”, she added.

Meanwhile, respected veteran Lord Ryder, John Major’s former chief whip, warned Cameron he “won’t be the master of his own destiny for very much longer” if he failed to “take a grip”.

Cameron in hysterical delight over US stance on Malvinas

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/231955.html

British Prime Minister David Cameron has expressed hysterical delight by his repeated use of the phrase ‘status quo’ in comments, which followed the US President Barak Obama’s saying Washington was content with the status quo in Las Malvinas.

“The US position is that they support the status quo, they don't argue against the status quo and that is very welcome. They are content with the status quo, they are not challenging the status quo,” said Cameron at Ground Zero in New York.

Cameron’s delight came after the two leaders met in Washington running a show of reassuring their commitment to the so-called ‘Special Relationship.’

This way, British officials could believe “that Britain is still Great Britain, still punching above its weight and playing Greece to America’s Rome, endlessly re-living the glory days when much of the world did our bidding,” as described by writer and journalist Matthew Carr.

Cameron’s hysterical delight is not unexpected considering concerns raised earlier by British officials over why the US remained silent on the issue of Malvinas islands and did not take sides with Britain.

Last month, Nile Gardiner, an aide to former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, said the US did not understand “the difference between Great Britain and Argentina” after US Acting Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson said Britain and Argentina were equal partners in the eyes of the US.

Gardiner also expressed worries over why the US “fails to express any support whatsoever for the UK, and remains silent” on the issue of Las Malvinas.

“Our position remains the same. This is a problem between two of our partners. We do not want to change our position,” Jacobson said on Las Malvinas in an interview in Peru last month.

Cameron has claimed that the US president has taken a U-turn saying Obama has reassured him that the US was content with the status quo.

Given the bigger picture that the US and Britain have tried to run a show of their commitment to the ‘Special Relationship’ and that prior to the meeting of the two leaders several reports said that they would discuss imposing further sanctions on Iran and supporting Syria’s armed rebels, Matthew Carr poses a question.

“Some might ask, for example, where America and Britain have acquired the right to decide what happens in Syria, Iran, Somalia or anywhere else,” asked Carr.

Cameron set to crack down on Muslims

PM David Cameron held talks with the Bahraini crown prince in Downing Street on May 20

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/183344.html

London is to effectively crack down on all Muslims in Britain except those who abandon their Islamic identity and “reflect British mainstream values”.

There is no opposition between the so-called mainstream values and Islam as long as they mean advocacy for freedom of speech, equality, democracy and religion.

But British Prime Minister David Cameron has emerged to be set to cross that line to label all members of Muslim groups that follow the rules of their faith, the sharia law, as extremists who need to be tackled.

The Guardian quoted Home Office sources as saying that Cameron has won an argument with his deputy Nick Clegg on a counter-terrorism strategy to be unveiled next week, insisting that all extremism has its roots in the ideology of non-violent extremism, identified by the paper as the sharia law.

The paper said the Prevent strategy, which tars violence-oriented groups with the same brush as non-violent ones, will be announced by Home Secretary Theresa May on Tuesday.

The Prevent strategy redefines extremism as advocacy for views London believes do not “reflect British mainstream values” including sticking to sharia law.

The strategy echoes Cameron's controversial comments in an international counter-terrorism conference in Munich last February.

Cameron used that speech to make clear that he supports an end to “state multiculturalism” saying "move along the spectrum, and you find people who may reject violence, but who accept various parts of the extremist world view, including real hostility towards western democracy and liberal values".

While that seems to allow some room for Muslims to follow their 'faith' Cameron went on to liken Muslim groups to far-right ones calling for a blanket freeze on all government funding to Muslim organizations following sharia law.

"Would you allow far-right groups a share of public funds if they promise to help you lure young white men away from fascist terrorism? Of course not," he said.

Cameron's one-way approach to the question of extremism has raised concerns among experts including Haras Rafiq, director of the counter-terrorism consultancy, Centri.

"They need to build a criteria to establish which organization they fund has extremist views, which one doesn't,” Rafiq said.

London's new strategy is especially worrying, as London has recently offered contrary definitions of 'core' British values, democracy and freedom of speech, at least in actions if not in words.

Britain has been supporting the 'pro-democracy' cause in Libya laying its weight behind the revolutionaries there and has even went as far as involvement in attacks directly targeted at the Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi's residence.

However, pro-democracy cannot be attributed in British terms to the Bahraini demonstrators who are calling for an elected parliament in Bahrain and are being killed by the al-Khalifa regime.

Indeed, following months of bloody crackdown by the Bahraini regime Foreign Secretary William Hague only went as far as urging both sides to engage in “dialogue”.

Meanwhile, during a meeting with Bahraini crown prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa in London last month, Prime Minister David Cameron implied that Bahraini demonstrators disrupted reforms underway in their country and should now pay the price or let the regime continue its undemocratic rule.

Cameron said that his government would back efforts to return Bahrain to a process of reform rather initiate the Persian Gulf state into such a process, effectively dismissing demonstrations as irrelevant disruptions.

That lays bare London's hypocritical policy that explains why one has to take Cameron's talk of democracy and freedom of speech to be the British values Muslims do not respect with a pinch of salt.

UK PM: Multiculturalism has failed

David Cameron says 'state multiculturalism' has failed and left young Muslims vulnerable to radicalization.



David Cameron said it was time to replace Britain's 'passive tolerance' with an 'active, muscular liberalism' [EPA]

Source: Al Jazeera
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/02/2011255620810460.html

"State multiculturalism" has failed and left young Muslims vulnerable to radicalisation, David Cameron, the British prime minister, has said, arguing for a more active policy to heal divisions and promote Western values.

Cameron, in a speech to a security conference in Munich on Saturday, said that Britain and other European nations needed to "wake up to what is happening in our countries" as well as tackling terrorism through military operations overseas.

"Under the doctrine of state multiculturalism, we have encouraged different cultures to live separate lives, apart from each other and the mainstream," Cameron said.

"We have failed to provide a vision of society to which they feel they want to belong ... all this leaves some young Muslims feeling rootless.

"We've even tolerated these segregated communities behaving in ways that run completely counter to our values.

"It is time to turn the page on the failed policies of the past."

His comments echo those made by Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, last year and reflect a push by many European governments to try to better integrate immigrants, given persistent domestic tensions between different cultures.

'Muscular liberalism'

Cameron denied that cuts to defence spending as part of efforts to tackle a record budget deficit mean that Britain is retreating from an "activist" global role.

"That is the complete reversal of the truth," he said. "Yes, we are dealing with the deficit, but we are also making sure our defences are strong."

Aides say his comments on multiculturalism and radicalisation help give a sense of future policy, but it remains unclear how the ruling Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition intend to turn such a vision into a reality.

Critics point out that Western foreign policy in the Middle East and beyond, not just a clash of cultures at home, has played a big part in stirring up anti-Western sentiment.

Some members of Cameron's Conservative party, activists in right-wing movements and some voters believe that Britain has become a safe haven for people with anti-Western political views.

Others argue this tolerant approach is the lifeblood of any open and thriving democracy, fearing a crackdown on civil liberties would undermine the kind of society the government is seeking to establish.

Cameron said it was time to replace Britain's "passive tolerance" with an "active, muscular liberalism" to send a message that life in Britain revolves around certain key values such as freedom of speech, equal rights and the rule of law.

"A passively tolerant society ... stands neutral between different values," he said.

"A genuinely liberal country does much more. It believes in certain values and actively promotes them.”

UK premier rapped over Iran gaffe

British Prime Minister David Cameron


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=137628§ionid=351021806


British Prime Minister David Cameron is under fire in the UK for making a false statement regarding Iran's nuclear program during a visit to Turkey.

The Tory leader came under criticism after he said Ankara could be an important influence in helping solve problems "like the Middle East peace process and the fact that Iran has got a nuclear weapon."

Labour former Europe minister Chris Bryant scuffed at the premier saying, "He is increasingly getting a reputation for being a foreign policy klutz, with two right feet, both of them firmly planted in his mouth," AFP reported.

"This is less of a hiccup, more of a dangerous habit," Bryant added.

Cameron's comments come while the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly verified the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran.

Downing Street rejected the criticism against the premier, claiming, "It is perfectly clear that he is talking about the pursuit of a nuclear weapon."

The West accuses Iran of pursuing a covert military nuclear program. Tehran, however, denies the allegations, saying that an IAEA member and a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty it has the right to peaceful nuclear technology.

Pakistan summons British envoy

Protesters in Pakistani city of Karachi burn an
effigy of the British PM David Cameron


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=137162&sectionid=351020401


The Pakistani government has summoned Britain's high commissioner over claims by Prime Minister David Cameron that Pakistan exports terror.

"The British high commissioner was summoned to foreign office today. He is in a meeting with the foreign minister," AFP quoted a Pakistani foreign ministry official as saying.

Britain's High Commissioner Adam Thomson responded to the summons by Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Monday.

The developments come after Cameron accused Pakistan last week of promoting the export of terror to other countries, including India and Afghanistan.

Cameron's remarks, which came during a recent visit to India, have sparked a diplomatic row and strained relations between the two countries.

The allegations have also prompted angry protests in Pakistan's southern city of Karachi.

The protesters insist that the harsh comments by the British premier were intended to disturb the balance of power in the region.

Cameron's comments have led to a political row between the two governments, with Pakistani officials harshly criticizing the British premier for his "irresponsible" remarks.

Lawmakers and opposition leaders in Pakistan have called on President Asif Ali Zardari to cancel a trip to the UK over Cameron's recent claims.

Downing Street says Cameron stands by his comments and will not apologize.

UK PM harangues Pakistan over terror

British Prime Minister David Cameron speaks in Bangalore, India.


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=136598§ionid=351020401


British Prime Minister David Cameron has asked Pakistan not to allow militants to use its territory as a base for attacks against its neighbors, especially India.

Pakistan cannot be allowed to harbor militants and promote terror against India, Afghanistan, or elsewhere, Cameron said during a visit to the Infosys headquarters in Bangalore, India.

He went on to say that US President Barack Obama was in agreement with him on Pakistan.

"We want Pakistan to emerge as a strong, stable and democratic nation. We cannot tolerate in any sense the idea that this country is... able, in any way, to promote the export of terror," the Hindustan Times quoted him as saying.

His remarks come only a few days after leaked US reports said Pakistan has secretly aided Taliban militants in Afghanistan. The leaked documents suggest that the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence), one of Pakistan's two military intelligence agencies, was encouraging the Taliban as recently as last year.

The Pentagon called the release of some 91,000 classified documents by the whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks a "criminal act."

The reports also raised new doubts about key US ally Pakistan.

The British prime minister launched the strongest British criticism yet of Pakistan, warning that the country could no longer "look both ways" by tolerating terrorism while demanding respect as a democracy.

Angry responses followed from Pakistani officials in the UK and the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad.

The row comes as Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari prepares for a visit to Britain next week. He is due to stay at the prime minister's country retreat of Chequers.

India, UK sign $1.1 bln aircraft deal

The Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft‎


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=136603§ionid=351020402


India and Britain have signed a $1.1 billion deal to supply the Indian Air Force and Navy 57 more Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft.

David Cameron, on his first visit to India after becoming British prime minister in May, called for a new "enhanced relationship" between New Delhi and London.

The deal was signed in Bangalore by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and British defense manufacturer BAE Systems for the supply of 57 Hawks for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.

BAE's Guy Griffiths said BAE will supply the design and also the equipment which will be assembled in India by HAL personnel over the course of the next three or four years.

India had signed an earlier agreement to buy 66 Hawk Trainers in 2004. The first 24 of those aircraft were supplied directly, while the next 42 will be assembled in India, Griffiths stated.

Cameron, who began his visit in the southern city of Bangalore, also visited the headquarters of the high-tech company Infosys in Bangalore.

Cameron said his main mission is to make use of the business opportunities offered by the Indian economy. His center-right coalition government is keen on promoting economic and financial cooperation with India, which is one of the biggest defense markets in the world.

Cameron brought six ministers and more than 30 senior executives from top UK firms with him to boost trade with Asia's third-largest economy.

Earlier, Britain announced it was prepared to export its civilian nuclear technology to India, in line with the stances taken by the United States, Russia, and France.

Later on Wednesday, Cameron arrived in the capital New Delhi, where he is expected to hold talks on Thursday with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The two leaders will sign a cultural agreement and seal a round of trade deals.

UK coalition to adopt fiscal cuts

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=127518§ionid=351020601


UK`s new coalition government will slash public spending by £ 6.0 billion as parts of its scheme to rein in the bloated budget deficit of £ 156.1 billion.

The details of the blueprint by Liberal Democrats and the Conservative coalition will be formally announced on Monday and, according to the Sunday Times newspaper, Britain's Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will have to shoulder the hefty burden of the initial cuts, which has been estimated at £900 million.

"Tomorrow we're setting out where we'll make six billion pounds worth of savings -- and every day after that we will make sure that the most vulnerable in society are protected from cuts," claimed the new Prime Minister David Cameron, quoted by the popular tabloid News of the World.

The move comes as the UK is grappling with the deepest recession in 60 years and the budget deficit has soared to £156.1 billion between 2009 and 2010, equivalent to 11.1 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

According to the plans, budgets of advisory bodies as well as civil servant benefits such as flights and taxis and hotel facilities will also be shrunk in a bid to save £513 million.

Treasury Minister David Laws, meanwhile, said that the country faces an "age of austerity".

The government has also envisaged plans to slash between 300,000 and 700,000 public sector jobs in years to come.