PM UNDER PRESSURE OVER CLAIM OF 70,000 MODERATE FIGHTERS
Forces: The Prime Minister said the
majority of the 70,000 were members of the Free Syrian Army and that
there were a further 20,000 Kurdish fighters with whom Britain could
also work with
David
Cameron was embarrassed in the Commons today after MPs repeatedly
doubted his key claim there are 70,000 'moderate' forces on the ground
in Syria ready to help defeat ISIS.
The
Prime Minister has fought defend the figures as he tries to convince
politicians to back plans to extend air strikes tonight.
He told the Commons the 70,000 was the estimate of the Joint Intelligence Committee - the UK's senior intelligence body.
He
said the majority were members of the Free Syrian Army and that there
were a further 20,000 Kurdish fighters with whom Britain could also
work.
'I
am not arguing that all of these 70,000 are somehow ideal partners.
Some though left the Syrian Army because of Assad's brutality and they
clearly can play a role in the future of Syria,' he said.
But
Jeremy Corbyn disputed Mr Cameron's claim about ground troops, saying
it was 'quite clear there are no such forces' and only extremists would
take advantage of the strikes against IS.
Mr Benn sat alongside Mr Corbyn as the party leader set out the case for opposing military action.
But
critics of the policy - including the 54-strong Scottish National Party
- have been emboldened by criticism of Mr Cameron's case from the
influential Commons Foreign Affairs Committee and controversy over his
claims of 70,000 moderate Syrian forces on the ground.
Comments
Post a Comment