British Prime Minister David Cameron asked parliament Thursday to join the bombing of the Islamic state in Syria, because the UK "can not delegate its security in other countries" .AFP
In a speech in parliament, Cameron asked, "if we do not act now our ally France has been hit in this way, we can not blame our allies when they ask, 'if not now, when?'".
So far only the British involved in the bombings in Iraq. Parliament is expected to rule on the request of the prime minister before the recess on December 17.
"No one predicted the rise of the Islamic State but nobody can say that he can not stop," estimated Cameron, listing a comprehensive strategy that ruled send ground troops - "would be counterproductive" - and for which called for "patience and persistence. "
At the same time, the prime minister reiterated that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must go, "We need a political transition in Syria to a government with which the international community can work against Islamic State".
Demand for Cameron to Parliament comes two weeks after the attacks in Paris, vindicated by the jihadist organization, and that left 130 dead and raised fears that London is the scene of similar actions.
It also comes two and a half years after the British Parliament refused to participate in military action against al-Assad to use chemical weapons against the population, when the Conservatives did not have the absolute majority with which they have now.
"There will be a vote in this House unless there is a clear majority in favor" of joining the bombings, he warned Thursday.
In an answer to a parliamentary committee released shortly before his speech in Parliament, Cameron wrote: "We must take the decision to extend the British bombardment of the Islamic state in Syria."
"It is wrong that the UK delegate its security to other countries," the statement said, referring to the bombings carried out by the United States, France and other countries.
"One thing is clear: the threats to our interests and our people are so great that we can not afford to stay on the sidelines and no action" is justified in its response.
Cameron argues that the British contribution to the war effort "help the coalition to more effectively disrupt the internal lines of communication of the Islamic State, including it difficult to move southward and threaten Jordan."
- Reluctance of the opposition -
The opposition was reluctant Thursday. The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, warned of "unintended consequences" of the bombing. "In light of the result of Western intervention in recent years, including Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya, do you agree that the British bombardment of Syria may incur more than what President Barack Obama called 'unintended consequences'?".
Conservatives have absolute majority and the opposition do not need to push through approval, but, as with the invasion of Iraq and the Labour Tony Blair, prime ministers seek maximum support to send British troops to war.
Malcolm Chalmers, research director of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London, estimated that Cameron is unlikely to lose the vote: "Paris facts have clearly changed things," he told AFP.
"I think the mood in parliament has changed," he said, predicting that the deputies will approve military action.