UK MP's call for downing Russian jets in Syria ‘disgraceful’: Analyst

Senior Tory MP Andrew Mitchell’s call for shooting down Russian jets over Syria is “disgraceful” and would put the world on the path towards another deadly war, says Dr. Rodney Shakespeare, a British academic and political analyst.

Mitchell, the UK’s former international development secretary, told BBC this week that if shooting down Russian jets ends the conflict in Syria, then that is what Britain and its allies should focus on.

He said the UK and its NATO allies should enforce a no-fly zone over Syria and allow British fighter jets attack Russian warplanes that breach it.

“What is happening in the Middle East is that the UK and America are supporting front of evil which is Saudi Arabia, which is behind Daesh or ISIL,” Shakespeare told Press TV on Thursday.

It is this unconditional support for Saudi Arabia that has prompted the British government to side with the Daesh Takfiri group instead of waging an all-out war against it, the analyst…

Read more