[Josy]

Thought this should have it's own thread.

From the BBC

RAF Tornado jets have carried out their first air strikes against so-called Islamic State in Syria, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

Four Tornados took off from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus shortly after MPs voted to approve bombing.

The strikes targeted the Omar oil fields in eastern Syria, which is under IS control, and were "successful", Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said.

He had personally approved the targets ahead of the Commons vote, he said.

On Wednesday, MPs voted by 397 votes to 223 for UK action against IS - also known as Daesh - in Syria after a 10-hour Commons debate.

Mr Fallon said the Ministry of Defence would be assessing the damage done by the bombing later, but the aim was to strike "a very real blow on the oil and revenue on which Daesh depends".

I think this was the wrong choice.

[Samm]

Trash, this will just increase the refugee crisis.

[Josy]

So the first targets were oil fields? and they bombed within an hour of the vote! this is bull**** tbh.

[reece(:]

Sounds like they were eager and must've knew the outcome.

[smudgie]

Rather them bombing the oilfields and taking the funding away from IS than bombing homes with the scumbags hiding like the sewer rats they are underneath.
No doubt this strategy will have been worked out over a period of time in the hope of winning the vote.

[lostalex]

take that ISIS! (and corbyn)

[Drew.]

There is no plan behind all of this, they are just desperate to get in on the act

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Thurman Merman

There is no plan behind all of this, they are just desperate to get in on the act

Yup. Bloodthirsty and desperate to play with the big boys. That's been the UK since the Cold War.

[Vanessa]

Omg this is not good.

[Kizzy]

Agreed TS, weren't the Russians said to have targeted the oilfields?
I really hope this doesn't backfire.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Vanessa

Omg this is not good.

My despair has all but evaporated, I've resigned myself to sitting back, watching the ****storm unfold.

[Niamh.]

My mom and her husband are going to London for the weekend, I hope they don't retaliate anytime soon

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Thurman Merman

There is no plan behind all of this, they are just desperate to get in on the act

I don't believe you actually think that, Drew. All the politicians who voted, all the military top brass putting our servicemen in harms way, the pilots themselves... only doing it because they are desperate to get in on the act? Bombing the oilfields so that funding to IS is cut off sounds like a plan to me.

We are just one of a coalition of nations. No one wants to go war, least of all those who will be fighting it on our behalf.

[Northern Monkey]

Sounds like it was successful.Hopefully a few terrorists were slaughtered along with their oil.

[Niamh.]

can you all stick to the topic please and not other forum members, be that specific Forum Members or Forum Members in general.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Thurman Merman

There is no plan behind all of this, they are just desperate to get in on the act

Yes
Russia will decide all that

[Northern Monkey]

Originally Posted by ChristmasNeeve

can you all stick to the topic please and not other forum members, be that specific Forum Members or Forum Members in general.

But my post was funny

[Tom4784]

It's a stupid move. Bombing hasn't been working for other countries so why are we pissing away money on an ineffective strategy when it was only a few weeks ago that the Tories were trying to cut Tax credits because we apparently couldn't afford to help the Working Class? We can throw away money on grandstanding but we had to fight to keep benefits that people couldn't live without?

We are not needed at this point in time, our contribution changes nothing and we're only doing it as an empty gesture so that Cameron can convince the naive voters that he is a man of action and not the pig ****ing wish washy indecisive **** that he actually is.

It's dumb and shortsighted to get involved at this point and it only puts us at more risk than we already were. All because Cameron needed a ****ing ego boost.

[Northern Monkey]

That airstrike on the oil field has probably just stopped thousands of Dollars getting into the hands of ISIS and possibly killed a few terrorists.Now multiply that by hundreds or thousands of oil fields or strongholds and it has a massive effect.It is wrong to say that we are not contributing much to this campaign.

[arista]

But Dezzy
Labour back this as well

[kirklancaster]

ISIS have advanced as much as they have because of weak opposition, but primarily because the massive revenue from those captured oil fields has paid for highly trained mercenaries and ever more sophisticated weaponry.

Is some people's in the UK's contempt for our intelligence services and military so scathing and biased that they REALLY believe that we enter into this war lightly or with no carefully formulated plan?

We have already cut off two of the three main supply routes relied on by ISIS for supplies, and bombing these oilfields is a valid strategy to deprive ISIS of the funds by which they have progressed so far so quickly.

Maybe these 'detractors' expect a daily briefing from British Military Intelligence along with an application for approval for their plans before implementing them?

A joint operation by the USA and UK covertly pinpointed the whereabouts of the hateful Jihadi John amidst the chaos and confusion of Syria, and despite one masked Jihadist killer looking identical to every other, and they covertly tracked him, then took him out with 100% precision.

We were ALL ignorant of such brilliant 'behind-the-scenes work by us and the USA until it was TIME for us to know, and the reason for this is crystal clear to anyone with a brain.

The same applies to what our country is doing now - on OUR behalf - please let them do what they do best and instead of criticising get behind your own country, because WE DID NOT START this, but ALL our lives and the way of life which we take for granted, may depend on our military FINISHING it.

[Crimson Dynamo]

this is a continuation of the bombing, what has changed is that we have now moved into Syria

[Kizzy]

You know it smacks of some sort of Napoleon complex ironically...
There's Russia, the US, China, France and god knows who else ( who incidentally have just cause) there and we charge in as if we can save the day? :/

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Thurman Merman

There is no plan behind all of this, they are just desperate to get in on the act

This is what worries me in it all tbh

[bots]

We hit ISIS capability to earn income. Please tell me how that was either inappropriate or unplanned.

It was exactly the type of resources that were highlighted that would be targeted.