General Discussion

I  expect this will cause some controversy,  but I thought, how  refreshing how the Germans are treating the refugee problem.  Their spokesman was on the  news this  morning saying  how they would be taken to reception centres and the first thing  they would get would be a nice shower  to freshen them up.......

The way I look at it is this.

If this country were to ever have a war fought on its land like that taking place in Syria right now, wouldn't some of us (many of us?) be tempted to flee elsewhere?

BTW according to a posting on Eyes of Dawlish there is a meeting at 2.00pm today at the Strand Centre about all this. I know no more than that.     

The problem is how many ISIS fighters are mingled in with these people my feelings in the future Germany will regret ever letting them in when bombs are going of in there towns and cities.  I am far from a supporter of Mr Cameron but he is doing the correct thing by keeping these people close to there homes in safety with food, water and shelter and weeding out those who plan to do us harm.

I agree with you leatash wholeheartedly.I am sick to death of seeing the reports about them on tv, look at them they are not refugees otherwise they would have stayed and been registered in the 1st safe country, there is something more to this. I believe we are heading for war in Europe. If I was cameron Id block the eurotunnel now. The refugees who arein the camps where we are supplying aid to are behaving totally different. Even the pic the other day has another twist to it.

No matter how you look at it, they are Illegal Immigrants in the EU.

Also, WHY is it Europe's problem?

Also, I wonder how much longer will we (British Christians) be allowed to celebrate Christmas and how much longer will the Royal British Legion be allowed to celebrate Armed Forces Day and Remembrance Sunday before it is banned as the celebrations might offend some people?

@Carer, @Leatash, @Roberta. Totally agree with you, well said. 

Just a thought but why are the muslim countries like Saudi, Jordan etc not taking in these "refugees" ? s it because their is no benefit system over there.?

As ever this  weak  goverrment is throwing  money at the sympton but not the root cause. If we could set up a military safe zone like we did in the Balkans why can we not do th same  in

Syria

Read this for an explanation of Germany's attitude towards the refugees

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/refugee-crisis-germanys-welcoming-approach-towards-people-in-need-is-no-surprise-10488960.html

1263 Maybe they have more sense and they know 70% are young men trouble with a capital T my question is why arent these young men fighting ISIS instead  of running i am British and would even at my age nearly 70 protect every square inch of this country against any aggressor.

Same arguments on here as elsewhere. Why does it matter why neighbouring countries aren't taking any refugees. We should be helping regardless. We should be helping in Syria to ensure it is a place people don't want to flee from and letting those that seek help in. 

Some stats ...

Asylum applications were just 25,771 for the year up to June. The largest number of applications for asylum came from nationals of Eritrea (3,568), followed by Pakistan (2,302) and Syria (2,204). A total of 11,600 people were granted asylum or an alternative form of protection.

Net long-term international migration = +330,000 (up 94,000 from YE March 2014), in the year ending (YE) March 2015.

These are not big numbers and as a rich country we can cope. We are not having services cut and budget reduced because of migrates. Don't just believe what you read, go and find the stats and educate yourselves unlike the journalists who write the same scaremongering headlines.

Why do you bring religion into it? As an atheist I have compassion for other humans. I don't understand why anyone believes in an imaginery fiend in the sky but that doesn't stop me caring about people.

As for comments like "how much longer will we (British Christians) be allowed to celebrate Christmas" this just shows ignorance as reflected by most of the British press.

Now waiting for the onslaught .... :-)

I don't 'do' an imaginary friend in the sky either but for those Christians that do I thought I would post this.

http://www.christianbiblereference.org/story_GoodSamaritan.htm

Its not about taking them its about not taking those who may cause us harm the stats are that a further 11,000 are arriving in Germany as we speak again most of them young men.  So my question is the same why are they not in Syria fighting for there homeland are they cowards, or have they seen a opportunity to get EU documentation in Germany giving them freedom to move to any country in Europe. I to have compassion for others but i wouldnt run from ISIS or any foe i would stand and fight and die to protect my country.  Maybe these young men should be given the oppertunity to be trained  as a fighting force and sent back to sort out there own countries problems and save the West spending millions doing it for them.

In view of Cameron admitting to a drone strike in August,I fear WW3 approaching very fast, God help us all

A drone strike that has killed two British ISIS fighters i am warming to our Mr Cameron job well done.

@leatash.

Agreed. He was a TRAITOR and I hope thousands more follow him and suffer the same justice.

I am glad I am old and will be dead soon as I wont want to live in the Islamic State of Britain which is coming soon.

It already is in some parts of this Country. BBC  are obsessed with everything islam

Islamic State of Britain? Really? Did you really type that? How is that going to happen? We have 65-70 million people in this country and less than 3 million are muslims. If were to become a Muslim country that would take a long long time to happen. It will involved those in this country to study and understand Islam. not be forced by a small minority. We are more likely to become an Atheist country (that I can't wait for)

Just because they are fleeing doesn't make them cowards and just because they are young doesn't mean they should fight.

OH dear.

PC-Do gooder alert.

Just wait and see what waits for you.

Good luck.

My ten cents worth . I do think that the British people have through history stuck it's head in the sand hoping a problem would just go away until it's to late, that's our culture that's our DNA for good or bad. These migrants/refugees call them what you wish. To Islam we are the Infidels and should be wiped of this Earth if you think not then that is your choice. The Muslim world will not intergrate with a Christian world that's a fact. We have a tide of humanity of biblical proportions heading this way. Cameron stated no we are not taking any, then well ok we will take a few, no now we will take 5 Thousand no now 10 Thousand and now on the news Cameron says 20 Thousand and if you think it will stop at that you are simply not thinking straight. Just curious how many here would volunteer to house a migrant family here in Dawlish. Ok so I'm not PC correct but I don't give dam...... Any young British couple that's in need of housing just tell them you are refugee. Thanks that's all folks.

Not all Muslims want all non-Muslims killed. Christian world? What century are we in?

Have you read the old testament? Until you start saying about what is or isn't suppose to be in the Qu'ran read your bible, read Leviticus in particular.

I am not PC just like to know the facts myself. Don't just believe what you're told, go find out.

I have never read such ill inormed and ignorant drivel in all my lifre. Have some humanity, Would our young men walk a hundred miles to freedom, they can'tThese peopl even be bothered to walk to the dole office. These people are escaping things you can never dream of. If it wasn't for Blair and Bush leading us intoan immoral and illegal war, we wouldn't have Isis. We left ahuge hole in Iraq weapons and tanks just waiting for fanatics to take over. Study the history and don't believe what you read in the daily rags.  I despair when I read this rubbish. Stirring up anti refugee rhetoric and hatred. Shame on you.

OurSoul and monty couldn't agree more

4000 per year = 6 per parliamentary constituency. Not so much a swarm then, in fact only just enough to fill a car. 

Well monty Maybe it was the Arab spring that started the troubles in Syria the trouble is these people have fought amongst themselves for years my first tour of duty was Aden in the 60s they where killing each other then and they are still at it today. There are solutions to the Syria crisis the first is for Europe to give Bashar al Assad the weapons he needs to defeat all the factions that are fighting against him or against each other, the second solution ask the Israelies to deal with it they have a vested interest,  or three for the west to put boots on the ground with the Israelies would be good move. So monty after serving with the British Army for more years than i care to remember believe me i have seen it and thats what worries me i would rather the problem stayed where it is and deal with it there.

There is no way the US will allow Israeli troops to get involved.

If you want to see IS grow exponentially overnight then that is the way to do it.

leatash I really don't know what to say or where to begin. Thanks for serving your country but with comments like "these comments" I am glad you aren't in the army anymore!

@slargemail

I think leatash feels the same way as many of us.

We have no idea who we are giving succour to and we have no way of finding out.

The potential for an Islamic Jihadist/IS Trojan Horse is massive - and some of us don't want to see that on the streets of Europe.

That is just complete rubbish. Really can't believe the ignorance.

I remember well going to staff meetings and the officer in charge a lieutenant colonel saying we cant beat the islamic terrorist all we can hope to do is degrade him to the extent he no longer proves to be a credible threat.  Now i spent years degrading that threat i i dont want to see the efforts of my friends who are no longer hear to have their voices heard and have given their lives to see us give free access to jihadists into the country i hold dear, and that is my final comment on the subject

@slargemail

Okay - I respect your opinion.

Now explain how/why it is complete rubbish and I'm sure some of us would be grateful if you could provide evidence.

9/11, the July 7th London Bombings, Charlie Hebdo etc. Do you think that no muslims wants to cause mayhem in the West?

Perhaps I'm an ostrich to a refugee crisis........or perhaps it's you to a potential 5th Column.

Please explain why you think it's me.

5th column? Really? I will ignore that.

You are going to reject a whole group of people because of a few horrible twisted people? You really think majority of muslims support those events? You honestly think that the majority of people looking for asylum are here to cause harm to non muslims? 

I have briefly mention the stats of migration up to now and I wouldn't expect to sudden have a upsurge even if we "let them in".

How is there going to be understanding between cultures and religions if we don't mix? 

I don't understand why anyone follows a religion, Christian or Muslim or anything else, but that is someone's belief that you have to respect and hopefully over the years we can educate people to think for themselves and not follow blindly.

I am maybe the ostrich but an ostrich that is willing to look passed the headlines and stats feed to us and get my head up and look around for the real answers.

Yes...5th Column really!

I didn't say I was 'going to reject a while (sic) group of people'.

I didn't say 'that the majority of people looking for asylum are here to cause harm to non muslims'.

Your argument amounts to "Because i said so"!

I don't know the answer to this issue...but it is surely not to just open the borders!

(This damn site has done it again with the font webmaster!!!!)

webmaster: I think it must be a shortcut that drops the font size. You can highlight the text and use the Remove Format button at the end to put it back to normal.

My argument really isn't because I said so. You read it wrong. There is an edit button btw!

slargemail...............

well done ...keep throwing out your comments to get people to bite.........the fact that your arguements are rubbish is just a front to keep the debate open. So when you ask for more clarity I won' be responding as you seek the oxygen of publicity.

How am I trying to get people to bite? You really couldn't be further from truth when you say seeking oxygen of publicity.

I keep saying find out for yourself rather than listen to anyone or believe the headlines. I am saying you can't dismiss a group of people based on a few.

What is rubbish about my argument?

I can see that you aren't interested so I might just give up now ...

We refused to help the Jews flee Europe prior to,  and during WWII.   Do we really want history to judge us again?  We could say we didn't know about the atrocities then - we can't say the same about IS.

IS victimises Muslims just as much as non Muslims.

Not entirely true, prior to the outbreak of the Second World War Britain took in 10,000 children from mainland Europe.

Despite having died earlier this year at the ripe old age of 106, I believe the spirit of this man is alive and well - and living amongst us now.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-33350880

... waiting for a train on Maidenhead Station, platform 3.

(Photo courtesy Lydia Karpinska, sculptor)

Gary Taylor

10,000? Oh wow. Well that makes it alright then.  You can't deny history.   

Unfortunately for us, Blair/Bush took us into an illegal war.  We are, in part, responsible for IS. 

Whether you like it or not, we have a moral responsibility to help.

I'm not saying it makes it right or wrong, just pointing out your factual error.

One comment only - if you think it's acceptable to turn away from people in crisis, people who have fled their homes, their family, their jobs (they're not all scroungers that want our welfare system), their way of life etc - then shame on you.

And let's all pray to whatever deity we believe in (although Christians, Arabs & Jews have the same God just different ideas of who is or is not His son or main phrophet) that we are never in need of that help ourselves one day.

Shame on you, looks like you put your compassion out with your bins.

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DX2rmA9A7CEM&h=-AQGsa1Jg
    REFUGEES ???????

That's a Pakistani flag isn't it?

Is there a war in Pakistan or aren't these chaps refugees?

I just wonder how many armchair do gooders are there on this site? How about this for an idea how many of the people of Dawlish would allow a refugee camp to be put on the Lawn huh. I for one no..... Come on with some feedback on that point.

Is the goverment proposing refugee camps in this country? 

Refugees on the lawn , fabulous idea as long as they bring a roll of turf and repair the damage caused in carnival week.

English Lawns For English Wino's! 

A question: would those who feel so antogonistic towards the Syrian refugees still feel that way if these

refugees were Christians/had a Christian background and were fleeing a particularly virulent form of Christianity?  

Now you are trying to provoke a reaction Lynne a question: What form of virulent form of Christianity would that be?

I (for one) don't feel any animosity towards Syrian/Afghan/Iraqi refugees and I feel that we should without doubt help them.

Indeed, I think WE have a MORAL OBLIGATION to help them.

We also have an obligation to keep our own citizens safe.

I therefore don't think that merely opening our borders to anyone who claims to be a refugee is the way to meet BOTH of these obligations.

As I stated previously, I don't have the answer to this problem - but given that, back in February, IS vowed to SWAMP Europe with 500,000 migrants - I think the West needs to be very cautious and that there must be a better solution to that being proposed at present.

Well, there is a history of Christian intolerance towards dissenters.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sectarian_violence_among_Christians

 And it seems the Puritanical Pilgrim Fathers of North America had a bit of a problem as well.  http://www.pbs.org/wnet/historyofus/web03/segment2.html

http://people.opposingviews.com/did-puritans-support-religious-toleration-5329.html  

the following link also gives lots of info on religious intolerance in general (and I think this is relevant

because the form of Islam that ISIS propagates is intolerant of any dissent).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_persecution      

Thanks Lynne. Those links were very interesting, always looking to learn about new things, well new to me :-)

Not really pertinent to the UK in the 21st century.Question for Lynne: What form of virulent Christianity have taken part or been charged or detained under anti terror legislation in the UK.

Religious intolerance not pertinent to the UK in the 21st century? What about Northern Ireland then?

What about Islamophobia then?

What I was trying to get at, to tease out if you will, is what is it exactly (or are if in the plural) the reason(s) that

some are so seemingly anti the UK taking numbers of these refugees to these shores.

So I asked a hypothetical question (I did use the word 'if') about christians fleeing other christians.

Would we be more accommodating (in every sense of that word), for example, if they were christians fleeing christians, or christians fleeing muslims (or any other religion), rather than, as is the case, muslims fleeing muslems?    

I am not against allowing them into the Country Lynne what i am against is allowing in people that have not had background checks and that is exactly what David Cameron is doing keeping them in camps and doing the correct checks.   IS have openly threatened to put their trained fighters in with refugees they have to be weeded out or we will give them a free hand to do as they want.  If people want to live in the UK then its by our rules and laws and they dont come here then do us harm its not a great deal to ask is it?  And you never mentioned religous intolerance there's plenty of that we used to fight kids from the local Catholic School i went to a CE School and it was open warfare after School what you said Lynne was a virulant form of Christianity.

Virulant according to my dictionary's definition = highly poisonous or malignant; venomous; acrimonious.

N.Ireland? Protestants vs Catholics. 

I don't buy that.

Loyalist Terrorist Gangsters v Republican Terrorist Gangsters.

Probably more sectarian hatred in Glasgow than Belfast.

Well, whether N.I or Glasgow - hatred and violence based on religious divides?

(and aren't Catholics still specifically barred from inheriting the British throne? Not an example of hatred,

I know, although it probably was when it was introduced.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Catholicism_in_the_United_Kingdom

@leatash

" If people want to live in the UK then its by our rules and laws"

Try walking around the Brick Lane area of London E1 holding hands with your loved one. So much for integration.

"Last week, a judge at the Old Bailey heard that Jordan Horner, 19, Ricardo MacFarlane, 26, and a 23-year-old man who cannot be named for legal reasons had told one couple they could not hold hands while walking down the street because it was a Muslim area. They attacked a group of men drinking on the street and said that a woman would face "hellfire" for the way she was dressed."

Source

AGREE, AGREE, AGREE.

And indeed they do live by our rules and laws - as they ended up at the Old Bailey and were given custodial 

sentences.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/dec/06/muslim-vigilantes-jailed-sharia-law-attacks-london

But they still tried

With all due respect, if they had lived by our rules and laws then they wouldn't have ended up at the Old Bailey and been given prison sentences.

The point I think Lynne is making is no one said it is ok they are Muslim they can be that, they went to prison. They broke the UK laws and now they are in prision.

Saying they tried could be said about any crime ...

Religious hate crime went up by 45% from 2012/13 and 2013/14  (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/364198/hosb0214.pdf)

You can imagine many headhlines being written about that but that was from 1,573 to 2,273. Not big numbers and we don't know the details of each case. I am sure all these weren't muslims on non-muslims.

To lighten the mood ...

Saudi have agreed to help refugees ... by offering to build 200 mosques in Germany https://twitter.com/SaifRRahman/status/641912820326604801. The link in the tweet is in German but use Google Translate and you will be able to understand most of it :-)

The reason a Catholic cannot become Monarch is nothing to do with religious discrimination.

The Sovereign is also Defender of the Faith and head of the Anglican Church.

A Catholic would not (due to their denomination) be able to fullfil that role.

Would you believe it Germany closes her borders all trains from Austria to Germany halted and now imposing the Skengen agreement. Merkel has been very quiet.

There are 6.7 million Syrian's that are displaced IS has announced it has embedded 4,000 combatants within the refugees i think the Germans have woken up its a bit like bolting the door after the horse has bolted.

An alleged ISIS operative allegedly announced that to a random American news website. As if they would make such an announcement if it was true. The only intention is to spread fear amongst the gullible.

The only UK rag to repeat that crap was the Express - which at least makes a change from their usual fairytales about Princess Diana or how it's going to be the hottest summer / coldest winter on record...

Mrs C, if you seriously think that IS, or any of the other lunatic groups, are not a threat to this country then you are an even bigger fool than I thought.

And as for not announcing their intentions in advance, I suggest you have a read of this:

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ayman-al-zawahiri-al-qaeda-leader-calls-lone-wolf-attacks-working-isis-1519579

Makes a change for the Germans to get invaded.

Always with the personal insults Bernard. Why are you incapable of debate without resorting to them? 

Of course any terrorist organisation or, indeed, deranged individual is a threat to any country. This has been true since forever. No one is saying otherwise. What is being debated are the unsubstantiated claims of those who have an anti-immigration agenda. 

As I have stated befor we in the West are  SATAN DEVIL  and thier agenda is to kill us whichever way they can. For the most part it's that wonderful piece of water that gives us some protection, but they will still get in. Merkel should resign over this debacle she has greated. No personel insults now be good girls and boys. We have bigger problems ahead of us and for those people that are for unfetted immigration will change thier minds in the future.

We are dealing with a organisation unlike anything the world has ever seen they are well funded have the latest arms and use the latest technology in the last few days it has been confirmed that IS are manufacturing grade 1 chemical weapons and are using them in Syria. Now if the many have to suffer because of the few then so be it because all i want is for me and mine to be safe. Cameron who i have never been a supporter of in my mind is dealing with the problem in a sensible manner and i hope will continue to do so.

Europe is now waking up and borders are being closed the list grows by the day Germany,Austria,Hungary,Slovakia, and more will follow Europes doors are slowly closing and controls being put in place and not before time.

They are not closing borders they are getting tigher and making sure people wanting to enter do so through the correct means, which I have absolute no problem. That is the right way to deal with the problem. Not just say "don't let anyone in"!! Let as many people in as possible as long as they have been processed first.

As the discussion on this refugee/migrants is old news on this forum anyone changed their minds on this issue. It has been stated in the media and the news on tv it is said that millions will be decending on Europe. It was also reported that these people will be given housing, NHS services and be allowed to work on arrival and no doubt have access to other benefits. So just curious on your views.

Ive not changed my mind one bit. You knew that all this would happen. After 5yrs they will be asked do you want to stay in the UK or return, you can guess what they will say. Europe is now in chaos, thanks to Merkel, and when these fit on their own men bring their families over to where they have settled just imagine the problems that will bring !!!!!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34333667

I will not change my mind only 1 in 5 are from Syria and as reported on the news last night German politicians are now saying that most are taking advantage of the situation and the chaos to gain entry to the EU. European borders need to be closed tight and those who are taking advantage sent packing back from where they came European countries need to get tough and i mean TOUGH. 

Maybe if Europe and the rest of the western world hadn't screwed over the rest of the planet in the name of concepts such as colonialism and in modern times 'economic development' and 'resource security' we wouldn't have refugees fleeing the barbarism of IS, or indeed IS or economic mirants escaping barbaric and exploitative working conditions in places like Bangladesh that resemble England in the 1800s. The news only reports selectively. If you think the current first waves of immigrants crossing the Mediterranaean and the Balkans are bad then this is just the beginning.

Globally people are taught that Britain is the pinnacle of civilization and a prosperous nation and a democracy, it isn't a mystery why they and so many people in former colonies or just those who learn English elsewhere or speak no English at all but culturally perceive the UK as a promised land want to better themselves economically by trying to enter our country. If the West hadn't expolited these less developed countries and told them to learn English so we could expolit them some more in a global marketplace where they have no chance of competing and if Western countries hadn't screwed up the global climate and almost exhausted the planet's resources.. then maybe we could justifiuably close our borders.

Can we change the title ofthspost to Syrian refugees and Afghanistan, Egyptian, Iraqi, Nigerian ( add your group here )  economic migrants

"Globally people are taught that Britain is the pinnacle of civilization..."

"...told them to learn English so we could expolit them..."

"if Western countries hadn't screwed up the global climate"

So much BS in one post.

6 to 8 thousand refugees entering Europe daily thats 180,000 to 240,000 per month i wonder how many speak English the 12 men from Pakistan on the news last night certainly did.

That's  the dozen that have a chip shop in Bradford.

That's right climate change isn't caused by industrualized countries, it's caused by tribal peoples living in mud huts somewhere! Duh.

English is a global language and we portray Western style democracy as the model that all should follow, then we wonder why so many refugees want to come here.

Cameron wants to send aid to stem the flow of migrants in the middle east, but then the RAF are carrying out drone strikes in Syria, which just incites ISIS even more, displacing yet more people who then seek asylum.

In truth I doubt other countries really think we're that civilized any more, many of them think eating pork is wrong, so how would they respond to our PM's alleged porky actions in his youth?

Earlier this morning you claimed it was "Western countries" that had screwed up the climate, now you have changed that to "industrialised".  I hope you are including two of the biggest polluters, China and India.

Well have some news for you Woodcock it's a bad bad world and thats how it is now if you have sympathy with these folk who's only aim is to destroy our way of life then go join them but watch out for the RAF drones because they will get you.

China and India are just following the West's example.  I didn't include them as they aren't experiencing an influx of refugees and economic migrants.

@leatash

Yes so proud of the RAF and their drones, haven't the Royal airforce come a long way from their finest hour in the Battle of Britain. They now just sit behind screens and bomb 'targets' and any innocent civilians who are in the area.

I have some understanding of someone who holds extremist views, whether they're a terrorist with ISIS or those like you who advocate state sponsored terrorism. That doesn't maker me a sympathizer, put simply both views are founded on ignorance.

So taking on the Nazis was 'State Sponsored Terrorism' was it?

Because IS/ISIS/ISIL are absolutely no different in my view.

Therefore if they are not confronted by countries like the UK who's going to do it?

@ Huw Matthews  no, I'm not saying the Battle of Britain was state sponsored terrorism. Although it could be argued that the blanket bombing of cities by both Nazi Germany and Britain was to crush the moral of a nation through terror as much hitting strategic targets.

Drone strikes that terrorize innocent Syrians are what I am referring to as 'state sponsored terrorism'. I think that much was clear. I think you really knew that as well.

I value and respect what the RAF did in the 1940s for Britain, my father served in the RAF.

What the government is using the RAF for in Syria will only exacerbate the problems in my opinion and create more conflict, not less. In my view it damages the reputation of the airforce.

Someone behind a screen controlling a drone thousands of miles away, as if it were a video game, has no resemblence and cannot compare to those who served in the RAF in the 1940s. I imagine many become terrorists and fight for ISIS because they witness the destruction caused by an opponent they cannot confront face to face. They portray us as cowards and then they successfully recruit more fighters, they don't care about the innocent lives wasted by the drones, it just serves their purpose of growing IS.

Cameron et al are just too stupid to comprehend this.

Drones are a completely counter produictive way of addressing this situation and the government's use of them is now subject to a legal challenge.

I oppose drones, not tackling ISIS per se.

Why do people on this site read between the lines all the time? I did refer to the 'barbarism of IS' previously, if I was a massive fan the jihad I'd hardly use such terms.

It seems if anyone writes anything to oppose the UK government in the context of Syria, refugees and ISIS, they automatically must have sympathy with jihadists.

Why put a pilot at risk when you can use a drone it wont be long before we have robot soldiers. RAF drones have not been used in Syria to target civilians but to kill two British IS fighters who posed a threat to our security and i hope our drone operators carry on the good work.

@leatash,

Why put innocent lives at risk, when a drone strike has no guarantee of hitting the intended IS target. I'd like you to answer that.

Or is a Syrian life or many Syrian lives worth less than one British life?

A pilot in the RAF, like any personnel in the armed forces expects to face armed conflict and the risk of death. It's in the job description. Drones just remove the supposed fighters from danger and bring death to civilian areas where seconds before people were going about their daily lives, ethically it's wrong. What choice do Syrian civilians have?

Do you really think that bombing a nation in civil war will create more or less refugees?

Do you think drone strikes will prevent the spread of ISIS and suicide bombers? It's more likely to fuel it.

Drones are not used to 'target' civilians. again why do people not read posts properly. they just kill anyone in the proximity of the intended IS targets.

If you think drones and robot soldiers are the solution that's your opinion. I believe it's just a desparate attempt to address a problem that will not go away that easily.

Have you ever asked yourself why there are extremists in the Middle East and why they declared a jihad on the West in the first place?

@slargemail

How's that 5th column looking now you naive buffoon?

RIP to all those who died in Paris & my heart goes out to the families and those injured.

Anyone that attacks innocent people are cowards. The Paris attacks were terrible, I was in Paris in the summer with my family.

Should we stop helping the vast majority of innocent people because of these idiots? Where do these people go if no one accepts them? That is exactly what ISIS want. They want for the "west" to appear unfriendly and against Islam, that helps their recruitment no end. 

In this article, there are a few, with the stats (I haven't verified the source of the stats but it was EuroPol)

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/01/14/are-all-terrorists-muslims-it-s-not-even-close.html

Less than 2% of terrorist attacks over the last 5 years were by Muslims.

It is a very emotional time but we need to remember there are human beings who just want to escape ISIS as much as we don't want ISIS.

One thing for sure bombing doesn't work. There have been nearly 10,000 bombs dropped on Syria and Iraq on ISIS targets but they are still here.