The Henry Jackson Society has called for a serious and sustained military response to the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime in Syria.
Dr Alan Mendoza, Executive Director of The Henry Jackson Society, said:
“If the British government has determined that the Assad regime is responsible for the latest chemical weapons abuse, then we have no choice but to respond militarily.
“A failure to act would essentially normalise the usage of chemical weapons in conflicts – and against civilians – and break a century long convention on their undesirability which will have strategic implications for Britain in future operations.
“No responsible government can sit idly by and allow that to happen, particularly as a further cost of inaction would be the emboldening of other putative aggressors. If the goal in Syria is to drive towards a political settlement, it can only be achieved by convincing Assad’s regime that it has more to lose than gain through continued bloodshed.
“That requires a serious and sustained military response.”