Ed Miliband has made the right call on Iraq. Now he must make the right call on Syria too

Today Ed Miliband will stand in Parliament, and back the government’s plans for airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq. That’s the right thing to do.

Legally, there is a sound case for action. The democratically-elected Iraqi government have called upon the international community to help them fight back against the invading forces of barbarism that constitute the so-called “Islamic State”. It is the duty of those of us who believe in democracy, human rights and freedom from oppression to stand with the Iraqi people (and the Kurds) to help them push back against exponents of beheadings and crucifictions, forced conversions, slavery, torture and systematic rape.

But the moral case for action in Iraq is not solely about the actions of ISIL, it’s about the actions of the West too. The actions of Western governments in the Middle East – allowing the post-Saddam Iraqi state to collapse, and failing to intervene in Syria to name two potent examples – have helped create the climate and means by which ISIL have been able to thrive. It’s not quite “you broke it you fix it”, but at the very least it’s “you facilitated it, you can facilitate its end”.

For those reasons – and more beides – the vast majority of Labour MPs will vote in favour of aisrstrikes in Iraq today. Those that don’t will ask difficult and legitimate questions about the timetable, strategy and the risk of civilian casualties from the strikes, they will fear a rush to war or a repeat of the 2003 Iraq War. These are legitimate concerns, but they do not amount to a reason to stand back as democracy and human rights are under threat. Some in the PLP are out-and-out pacificts, and will oppose action on those lines. Although I do not share their absolutism, they have my respect. But for the rest of the party, the Labour that celebrates the international brigades that fought Franco’s fascists cannot stand by whilst a foe at least as bad and quite possibly worse rampages through the Middle East.

Most Labour MPs will back Miliband in backing the strikes today. But the real challenge will be developing a position on ISIL in Syria. Last year Miliband’s intervention stopped (whether by accident or design) airstrikes against Assad in Syria. The situation in Syria is now more complex still, yet it’s clear that ISIL have benefitted from the dictator’s weakness – and may have benefitted further had he been struck by the West a year ago.

Once the airstrikes in Iraq have an impact, the push for British airstrikes in Syria will begin. Miliband has been clear that for Labour to support such action, a UN Security Council mandate must be sought. Russia – who back Assad and loathe ISIL – would be unlikely to stand against such action. But fighting ISIL in Syria must not mean letting Assad off the hook and allowing him to reassert control. The situation suffered by the Syrian people in recent years is too great for the West to start picking which bastard we prefer.

If we act in Syria, we must make the right decision – and we must take action against Assad too.