Published: April
13, 2018
Burnham-On-Sea
MP calls for military action to stop Syria gas attacks
Burnham-On-Sea's
MP has this week spoken out in favour of military action in Syria
to halt gas attacks.
James
Heappey, who served in The Rifles on two operational tours of duty
in Afghanistan, Iraq and Northern Ireland, says that military action
is justified.
"We
have the ability to strike the Assad regime with highly sophisticated
weaponry and in doing so, we have the ability to stop these chemical
attacks," he says.
His
comments come as ministers agreed on Thursday that it was "highly
likely" the Assad regime was responsible for a suspected chemical
attack last weekend and they agreed that the use of chemical weapons
must not "go unchallenged".
Dozens
of people were reportedly killed, including children, during the
alleged toxic bombing.
James
Heappey, Burnham-On-Sea's MP, outlined his position on Thursday:
"This week the world has been shocked and appalled by the pictures
emerging from Syria of children killed in the latest attack using
chemical weapons."
"The
images of those who survived are no better soaking wet from
where theyve had the chemical agent hosed urgently from their
bodies, their eyes full of terror and resignation that this is the
life that they now lead."
"Four
years ago, Parliament had the opportunity to do something about
this. The same sort of pictures reached our TV screens, those same
eyes desperate for help looked out at us, and yet Parliament turned
its back on those images and chose not to intervene."

"We
have become paralysed by our experience in Iraq. Passionate supporters
of our Armed Forces but incapable of using them even when the case
for using military force is compelling."
The
MP added: "We have the ability to strike the Assad regime with
highly sophisticated weaponry and in doing so, we have the ability
to stop these chemical attacks."
"A
UN resolution will always make these things easier in the court
of public opinion but this week Russia has, again, vetoed a Security
Council move to censure the Assad regime."
"Surely
we can see what Putin is doing? There will never be a Security Council
resolution because Russian interests are best served by Assad staying
exactly where he is."
"I
have seen friends and colleagues killed or suffer life-changing
injuries whilst doing their duty for our great country. Nobody who
has seen what I have seen, would seek to put our pilots, troops
and sailors in harms way for no reason."
"But
we maintain such a sophisticated military so that we can protect
British interests in the world and so that we can do what is right.
Right now, the right thing to do is to come to the aid of the children
being gassed whilst were sat gazing at our navels."
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