David Cameron has warned world leaders at the United Nations that the Islamic State, or Isis, harbours “murderous plans to expand its borders well beyond Iraq and Syria… and to carry out terrorist atrocities right across the world” and pledge concerted action by Britain, including air strikes, to thwart it.
Addressing the General Assembly in New York, Mr Cameron confirmed he will seek approval from parliament for Britain to join coalition countries, led by the United States, unleashing aerial strikes against Isis inside Iraq. “The UN Security Council has now received a clear request from the Iraqi government to support it in its military action”, he said. “We have a clear basis in international law for action.”
Mr Cameron was set to return to London overnight and chair a Cabinet meeting this morning ahead of a debate and vote in Parliament on Friday. Before leaving, he told reporters he had spoken with Labour leader Ed Miliband and he was “confident” of cross-party support for a motion to join the aerial mission. Earlier President Barack Obama similarly set out his arguments for taking on what he called the Isis “network of death”.
There was an acknowledgement in the Prime Minister’s address that the UN had reason to be wary about a new military campaign in the region because of memories of the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq as well as the long struggle that has played out over more than ten years in Afghanistan. But that should not deter them from doing what it takes to tackle Isis now, he insisted.
“Of course it is absolutely right that we should learn the lessons of the past, especially of what happened in Iraq a decade ago,” he said. “But we have to learn the right lessons. Yes to careful preparation; no to rushing to join a conflict without a clear plan. But we must not be so frozen with fear that we don’t do anything at all. Isolation and withdrawing from a problem like Isil (Isis) will only make things worse.”
The new Iraqi Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, was due formally to request that Britain expand its military engagement against Isis during a meeting with Mr Cameron.
Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Cameron had a meeting with Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, the first such encounter between leaders of Britain and Iran since the Iranian revolution. And in his speech to the Assembly, he very carefully suggested that Iran may indeed end up being part of the world’s concerted action against Isis, in spite of the years of enmity between Tehran and the West and the issues that still divide them.
“Iran’s leaders could help in defeating the threat from Isil (Isis),” he said. “They could help secure a more stable, inclusive Iraq; and a more stable, inclusive Syria. And if they are prepared to do this, then we should welcome their engagement.”
The new Iraqi Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, was due formally to request that Britain expand its military engagement against Isis during a meeting with Mr Cameron.
Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Cameron had a meeting with Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, the first such encounter between leaders of Britain and Iran since the Iranian revolution. And in his speech to the Assembly, he very carefully suggested that Iran may indeed end up being part of the world’s concerted action against Isis, in spite of the years of enmity between Tehran and the West and the issues that still divide them.
“Iran’s leaders could help in defeating the threat from Isil (Isis),” he said. “They could help secure a more stable, inclusive Iraq; and a more stable, inclusive Syria. And if they are prepared to do this, then we should welcome their engagement.”
The Prime Minister also sought to counter those who argue that rise of Isis and the campaign to eliminate it may mean dropping demands for the removal from power of President Bashir al-Assad in Syria. “This view is dangerously misguided,” Mr Cameron asserted. “Our enemies’ enemy is not our friend. It is another enemy.”
“Doing a deal with Assad will not defeat Isil (Isis)... because the bias and brutality of the Assad regime is one of the most powerful recruiting tools for the extremists. Syria needs what Iraq needs: an inclusive, representative, democratic government that can look after the interests of all its people.”
The Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, held talks with members of the Syrian opposition on the fringes of the Assembly. As a reminder of the many diplomatic cross-currents complicating the task of taking on Isil (Isis), the opposition leadership has very plainly urged western governments not to let Iran play any role in it.
