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Nick Clegg: UK cannot afford to be lured into religious war over Isis Nick Clegg: UK cannot afford to be lured into religious war over Isis
(8 months later)
Nick Clegg has insisted the question of whether to extend UK military action in Iraq would be put to a Commons vote, but suggested a request for political authorisation may not come until there is greater clarity about the countries that are prepared to get involved.Nick Clegg has insisted the question of whether to extend UK military action in Iraq would be put to a Commons vote, but suggested a request for political authorisation may not come until there is greater clarity about the countries that are prepared to get involved.
He said the UN general assembly will put "the finishing touches to a coalition capable of squeezing out Islamic State", but said it would be disastrous for the UK to be lured into a trap in which it appears the west is indulging in a religious war against Islam.He said the UN general assembly will put "the finishing touches to a coalition capable of squeezing out Islamic State", but said it would be disastrous for the UK to be lured into a trap in which it appears the west is indulging in a religious war against Islam.
On his regular LBC call-in show on Wednesday, Clegg said: "We cannot have our strategy determined by the grotesque, evil acts by this group. We've got to be tough, we've got to be smart, we've got to be uncompromising. These people will be hunted down. Isil will lose."On his regular LBC call-in show on Wednesday, Clegg said: "We cannot have our strategy determined by the grotesque, evil acts by this group. We've got to be tough, we've got to be smart, we've got to be uncompromising. These people will be hunted down. Isil will lose."
He said the building blocks to defeat Isis are already in place. "The Americans are already taking military action from the air. A very significant new coalition of countries is being assembled, crucially, and this is so crucial, including the countries in the frontline themselves. Whether it is the Iraqi government, whether it's the Jordanians, whether it's the Turks."He said the building blocks to defeat Isis are already in place. "The Americans are already taking military action from the air. A very significant new coalition of countries is being assembled, crucially, and this is so crucial, including the countries in the frontline themselves. Whether it is the Iraqi government, whether it's the Jordanians, whether it's the Turks."
He said: "We cannot afford – because it would be a disaster to do so – to allow ourselves to be lured into the trap that Isil want to set for us, which is to turn this into a west-versus-the-rest conflict – some kind of religious war.He said: "We cannot afford – because it would be a disaster to do so – to allow ourselves to be lured into the trap that Isil want to set for us, which is to turn this into a west-versus-the-rest conflict – some kind of religious war.
"The United Nations will be debating this next week. And I think we will then, given that Obama and ourselves, the French, the Australians, have all been quite open about the fact that we will do whatever we need to hunt these people down, and to squeeze Isil out of existence … it will happen." "The United Nations will be debating this next week. And I think we will then, given that Obama and ourselves, the French, the Australians, have all been quite open about the fact that we will do whatever we need to hunt these people down, and to squeeze Isil out of existence … it will happen."
He added: "I've been clear – and this will of course have to be debated and voted on in parliament – if Britain is ever asked to actually participate in military action, even air strikes, we will then have that debate when we know exactly what is being proposed to us. At the moment, nothing specific has been put to us."He added: "I've been clear – and this will of course have to be debated and voted on in parliament – if Britain is ever asked to actually participate in military action, even air strikes, we will then have that debate when we know exactly what is being proposed to us. At the moment, nothing specific has been put to us."
John Kerry, the US secretary of state, will chair a meeting of the UN security council in New York, which will provide countries that have quietly backed the US coalition an opportunity to do so publicly.John Kerry, the US secretary of state, will chair a meeting of the UN security council in New York, which will provide countries that have quietly backed the US coalition an opportunity to do so publicly.
So far 10 Arab countries have expressed their support: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and six Gulf states including rich rivals Saudi Arabia and Qatar.So far 10 Arab countries have expressed their support: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and six Gulf states including rich rivals Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The Arab states agreed to eight main tasks: stopping the flow of foreign fighters, countering Isis financing, repudiating their ideology, ending impunity, providing humanitarian relief, reconstruction of Isis-hit areas, supporting states that face "acute" Isis threats, and, "as appropriate, joining in the many aspects of a coordinated military campaign".The Arab states agreed to eight main tasks: stopping the flow of foreign fighters, countering Isis financing, repudiating their ideology, ending impunity, providing humanitarian relief, reconstruction of Isis-hit areas, supporting states that face "acute" Isis threats, and, "as appropriate, joining in the many aspects of a coordinated military campaign".
The American administration is open that its strategy will include attacks on Isis in Syria, a plan that will be harder to get through the Commons.The American administration is open that its strategy will include attacks on Isis in Syria, a plan that will be harder to get through the Commons.
On Tuesday in Washington, the defence secretary, Chuck Hagel, said plans were being laid to hit targets in Syria, where Isis is holding western hostages and has a stronghold in the city of Raqqa.On Tuesday in Washington, the defence secretary, Chuck Hagel, said plans were being laid to hit targets in Syria, where Isis is holding western hostages and has a stronghold in the city of Raqqa.
He said: "This plan includes targeted actions against Isil safe havens in Syria, including its command and control, logistics capabilities, and infrastructure."He said: "This plan includes targeted actions against Isil safe havens in Syria, including its command and control, logistics capabilities, and infrastructure."