"Assad was no better or worse than other Arab dictators."
Yes he was - and why redistrict it to "Arabs" - the West has backed and sold weapons to war criminals of all shapes and sizes - the British Trades Minister has been more than happy to admit as much.
Far from 'not intervening', we actually backed Libyan State terrorism and were happily training Qaddafi's son to take over so that the dynasty could continue.
Isis stepped into the gap left by the west - "mostly engaged with killing Shia Muslims" - are you joking?
Isis is a product of the West's predatory policies and inhuman indifference.
"We will never agree on the history, so let's consider what to do in the future."
We certainly won't while one of us refuses to address it and takes sides.
There is little more to do oter than wring handkerchiefs to catch the crocodile tears unless we recognise that what is happening is happening directly because of hat out governments are doing in our - you shed your tears - we'll try to make sense of the whys and wherefores
"but had Jim wanted Britain and the West to send troops into Syria from the start"
And please don't distort my position by reducing it to "sending troops"
My argument was for a whole tranche of actions, including boycotting, the seizing of property, ostracisation of a family that valued Britis patronage - none of which happened.
I can't remember ever supporting you on anything - your views come with too much of a not-very-well hidden agenda and are seldom what they seem.
Jim Carroll