Why Cameron’s warning on Syria leaves me feeling nervous

David Cameron’s Commons statement today contained two blunt warnings. In a significant escalation of the argument over communications data, he warned that ‘we will suffer’ if we don’t make progress on the matter. He also declared that not intervening in Syria could boost extremism and mean that the situation there becomes a ‘tragedy for us too’.

On communications data, I suspect that there’s a limit to how much progress he can make with his coalition partners. The vibe from the Clegg camp is that they have no desire to back down on this issue and feel that many of their critics are being opportunistic post Woolwich.

However, it was Cameron’s warning on Syria—which I suspect will receive less coverage—that struck me more. Listening to Cameron compare Bosnia and Syria, it was clear that Cameron feels that lending support to the official opposition is a moral imperative. He also, as his warning about Syria becoming Britain’s ‘tragedy too’ showed, has clearly persuaded himself that not helping the rebels will boost extremism. Strikingly, Cameron refused to commit to a Commons vote if Britain used the ending of the arms embargo to send supplies to the official opposition.

Cameron’s words left me feeling nervous. I fear that in Syria there are no good options any more. I struggle to see how in so fluid a situation we could ensure that any supplies or weapons we sent to the official opposition didn’t end up in the hands of the Islamist extremist, anti-Assad forces. If Britain does send weapons to Syria, I fear that we would be starting off down a very dangerous path.

The next Spectator Debate on 24 June will be debating the motion ‘Assad is a war criminal. The West must intervene in Syria’ with Malcolm Rifkind, Andrew Green, Douglas Murray and more. Click here to book tickets.