Stop Repeating History

ISIL is not a geographical location we can bomb.  It is an ideology which has only been strengthened by the choices of our government.  The only thing certain in our belief of location is the death and harm caused to hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians.  Just as it was certain in our war-filled history.

Yet it seems we never learn.  We are repeating our mistakes of the past.  We are repeating the atrocities of Iraq.  We are reinforcing the tragedies of Afghanistan.  We have replaced Al-Qaeda with ISIL.  But our government has not learnt.  It has not listened to the public they were elected to represent.  They have let us down.  Not only are we disappointed in their actions, but many worldwide too are disappointed and filled with disgust and contempt for the actions starting in the next 24 hours. 

Support for military intervention in this country is incredibly fleeting, very transient.  It rises as quickly as it dissipates.  But this reactionary measure undermines the power of our military and the potential of peaceful means to end these conflicts.  It negates the fading public support for our armed services. 

In a world which is so unstable, so full of unpredictable actions, where our actions can be exploited, we cannot possibly think that rushing into life-consuming actions is the right thing to do.  We cannot think for even a moment that acting in such a rushed, abhorrent manner will improve the situation.  Rather, it is symbolic of the despair, the hopelessness and the fear prevalent in so many societies.  We have overstated our power and influence in the world, and this has resulted in instilling fear in many of the British population. 

There is no unity.  There is no coherence.  There is no humanity.  And there is no compassion.  At least, not in our government.