The morality of air strikes

DAVID BLAIR (“Is it moral to refuse to defend the defenceless?”, 5 December) implies that by their “refusal to defend the weak” it is “anti- war” marchers who are callous and inhumane. He does opponents of bombing an injustice. Bombing will lead to civilian casualties, as occurred in Iraq. That war left the Sunni population traumatised and excluded from the political process. Without excusing the brutal oppression by IS, we must recognise our culpability in driving Sunnis into the arms of extremists. And the absence of peace-keeping troops on the ground will leave minorities (including Christians) open to worse revenge attacks than those to which they have already been exposed.

Richard Watts
Sheffield, South Yorkshire

THE?STORIES in David Blair’s column are moving but he does not look at the growing complexity of the situation or the case against joining in the bombing of Syria. His focus is too limited, his argument unconvincing. He even tries to smear those who are against the decision to bomb.

By bombing IS, we are boosting President Assad, who instead should be brought to peace negotiations. Our actions may motivate more young Muslims to resist either by joining IS or by perpetrating acts of terrorism in our streets. Within a week of our decision to bomb Syria, we have had a terrorist attack by a lone perpetrator on the London Underground. IS fighters conceal themselves among the civilian population, thus increasing the danger of our killing civilians. We know that IS is now taking over territory in Libya; we may be  helping to spread the cancer. Furthermore, our bombing is illegal and the Government has refused to publish the legal judgment it asked of its own officials. Great powers should respect the rules of the United Nations at all times.

Cutting off the money supplies to IS, reducing the reasons for radicalisation, bringing the countries in the region to peace talks are less seductive ways of using our power to save lives. Alas.

John Prangley        
Oxford

I do hope that Archbishop’s House is investigating the security breach that saw a government press release championing the bombing of Syria being sent out in the name of Cardinal Vincent Nichols (“Nichols supports use of force against IS”, News from Britain and Ireland, 5 December) .

Matt Jeziorski
Luton, Bedfordshire