I just can't understand why Assad would have the need to use chemical weapons when he's been told it's the 'red line'. The opposition have a lot more to gain out of the rest of the world thinking it was Assad. Never underestimate the actions of a desperate man though.

I think Obama made the statement about chemical weapons and now has to start sabre rattling otherwise he and his party look weak. This should only escalate under instruction from the UN otherwise it could end up as the battle ground for a US-Russia-China war.

I find this whole 'brotherhood of arms' (USA & Britain) aiming a strike at Syria worrying

•Who are we aiming at? Lets not forget there is two rival groups at war not just one side

•Do we have actual evidence rather than credible evidence of weapons used by Government forces?

•If we do strike, what are we going to achieve? We may overthrow Assad eventually but who is going to then control the country?! The rebels?!

This has bad news written all over it with far reaching consequences in the pipeline. Plus I honestly think other countries will not stand for it (Russia & Iran) leading to consequences from them.

Scary times ahead

If Mr Cameron really can't stand by and let this happen without getting involved I for one will stand fully behind him and other Westminster cronies who can't stand by getting on a plane, going over there and sorting it out.

It's not all bad news, if there is military action, Diane Abbot has said she would consider resigning from being an MP

Is resigning from the front bench the same as resigning as an MP?

She was a whole lot more weaselly than that when Evan Davies asked her this morning.

Ah, I must have mis-read. So what does her threat to quit the front bench even mean? She wants to protest but not lose her privileges? I guess she's just had enough of white people playing Divide and Rule.

We're getting the band back together.

TBH I no longer know which portfolio she shadows, so I seriously doubt she'd be missed much at the dispatch box. Although by all accounts she does work hard in her constituency

She should stick to cozying up to Portillo on This Week

Simple, it's nothing to do with us, leave it.

On a mission from God?

So, Call Me Dave and 14 pints were all geared up for their Dr Strangelove moment, Parliament recalled to rubber-stamp their attack on Syria, until a phone conversation with Miliband at 5.15pm. The Labour leader said he would not give carte blanche approval for military intervention until the UN inspectors had at least reported back.

Rug pulled from underneath him, Cameron reverts to type and throws a hissy fit with No 10 and the Foreign Office describing Miliband as rl"a f****** c*** and a copper-bottomed s***"rl

In one afternoon, Miliband has shown more statesmanship than Cameron has displayed all Summer. Suddenly Cameron goes from his Churchill moment to a sad parody of Anthony Eden

If Ed can keep his head in this afternoon's debate, it should make interesting viewing/listening

Indeed.
We must also remember that there are factions involved who would easily turn upon each other once Assad had been deposed, it's not just one side against another.
e.g. Do we really want to side with or assist Al Quaeda against Assad?

The Speaker of the Syrian Parliament has written to John Bercow to the effect that Syria will sue those responsible in British courts if the UK attacks.

Assad may have no defence to our Cruise missiles, but given that we would be unlikely to have any defence to such a claim (that i can think of) if any strike was not mandated by the UN, that could be a fair few bob for the beleaguered UK taxpayer to find I should think.

If we attack Syria that's the Tory party added to the list of a party I'll never vote for joining Labour and the BNP.