Statesmanship needed over the crisis in the Middle East

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/26/statesmanship-needed-crisis-middle-east

Version 0 of 1.

As I hear the sabres rattling, I continue to think it utter madness for the UK to meddle again in the Middle East (Britain’s involvement in the new Iraq war is a doomed and dangerous gesture, 26 Septermber). War mongering does not win votes in the long term. As in Iraq, where it was always against the wishes of the majority of our country, this would be a complete disaster. Sadly and ironically, we would not be in this situation if Saddam was still in power - the lesser of two evils? Do they not realise that ISIS are encouraging us to respond to the beheadings in order to escalate further?

Rightly or wrongly, many Americans come across as trigger-happy, maybe to preserve their new oil interest in Iraq. This increases hatred for the US. As we have recently seen in Gaza, indiscriminate bombing does not solve underlying problems.

The key has always been, and must remain with, the local Muslim countries which are all desperately worried about the Isis regime and what its barbaric philosophy could mean to them as it spreads into their countries. Why not scale up reporting on this and encourage them? If the US wants to help sensibly it should use its massive influence and negotiating skills to encourage these countries to work together in a more high-profile way. It must also find a way of including Iran, which is a key player in this. It should support these countries, not lead them.

We desperately need some statesmanship – doing what is right for the future and not what seems popular right now – which has been conspicuously lacking over recent decades. I am not alone in thinking that the mould needs to be broken on Middle East thinking. Let it be us that do it while we still have credibility and respect. We have a massive multicultural heritage to draw on.David ReynoldsLondon

• So Cameron has his Falklands moment at last. With only months to the election, and with no domestic policy to speak of, apart from shrinking the state back to 1948 levels and matching Ukip on immigration, he is forced to resort to war. Yet again, as Simon Jenkins says, Britain will demonstrate “our incompetence in trying to recast” the politics of the Middle East. Is Miliband so frightened of the rightwing media he cannot offer the obvious anti-war argument? Hasn’t history given us enough examples of the disastrous effects of US and UK interference? Anyway, since when has the indiscriminate blowing up of bodies been less medieval and barbaric than beheading?Bernie EvansLiverpool

• Why do we feel the need to get involved and still have the capacity to interfere in a war some 2,000 miles from home? This capacity not only includes a substantial airforce, but also sovereign bases on a sizeable chunk of Cyprus. This is not our fight. Yes, three UK citizens have been kidnapped, with one executed. We should look at all reasonable options for their release, but it must be acknowledged that they all chose to go to such a volatile area.

We are one of the richest nations on earth and still a leading advocate for liberal democracy and basic human rights. However, back home, there is still glaring underinvestment in our NHS, welfare and housing. The argument that we cannot afford to spend more on these is so glaringly exposed by the simple riposte of our military prowess to interfere on other continents.Dave PackhamLondon

• No talk of the deficit when money is endlessly available for killing in wars. It was ever thus.Keith RichardsLondon

• Only a short week after a vote on Scottish independence during which one of the points made by the yes campaign was that we didn’t feel the need to be constantly bolstering England’s self-aggrandisement of foreign adventures, here we are again, off to war. Did I dream the whole thing?Allan McRobertKirkcaldy

• Prime ministers have regularly used war abroad to distract from constitutional matters or problems at home, as history shows. But that couldn’t happen today, could it?Elizabeth WebsterCarnoustie, Angus

• A quick rummage through my memory suggests that Jim Callaghan was the last British prime minister not have started a war. Several successors had more than one each. I doubt that Bullingdon Boy David will fare any better than the others.David HardyLondon

• The effect of of attempting to destroy Isis by annihilating its adherents is likely to be the same as that of the opponents of the early Christian church throwing believers to the lions. Every martyr generates double the number of new believers. When will we ever learn?Mike GarnierBristol