Syria airstrikes would fortify UK against Isis attacks, argues Michael Fallon

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jul/02/syria-airstrikes-fortify-uk-against-isis-threat-michael-fallon

Defence secretary’s bid to intervene in Syria also motivated by US talk that Britain is a fading power and threat of cuts to defence budget

Syria airstrikes would fortify UK against Isis attacks, argues Michael Fallon
Ewen MacAskill Defence correspondent
Thursday 2 July 2015 09.03 EDT


Why is the defence secretary, Michael Fallon, raising the prospect of UK intervention in Syria?

Fallon argues that if evidence emerges linking the killing of Britons in Tunisia to Islamic State, then the group presents a direct threat to the UK. He also argues, with some justification, that it is illogical to fight Isis in Iraq but not in Syria, given that the group does not recognise borders and its strongholds are in Syria.

But Fallon is motivated, too, by the recent chatter – most gallingly from the US –that the UK is a fast-fading power. His response has been to talk up the UK’s military involvement in eastern Europe – from Baltic air patrols to helping train the Ukrainian army – and air strikes against Isis in Iraq.

Fallon has another incentive, too. He is facing a strategic defence review by the end of the year and a chancellor desperately looking for budget cuts. Fallon has to make a case that the UK is facing serious threats and that money has to be provided to meet these.


What would be the impact of the UK extending operations against Isis in Iraq to include Syria?

There would be a debate in the UK about mission creep. But in Syria the impact would be minimal. The US is already engaged in air strikes against Isis targets in Syria, aided by Bahrain, Canada, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The UK joining this coalition would not make a significant difference.