Pigs will be flying next .....

In the past 24 hours the British Parliament (reconvened especially to vote "for" the action) and the German Foreign Ministry have both come out against involvement in the conflict in Syria.

Despite pressure from the United States. Putting to one side for a minute whether they might have reacted differently if there had been a Republican rather than a Democrat President in the USA (the British in particular tend to follow "commands" - the correct word, "requests" they are usually not - from GOP leaders!), it shows a positive trend.

The UK backing off the prospect of taking part in a war is indeed a turn-up, even if the ridiculous support of the Iraq War and the toll of 11 years in the more justifiable conflict in Afghanistan seem to have impacted public opinion and their elected representatives in the same way.

Germany has since the end of the Second World War stayed out of most external conflicts. Bosnia and Afghanistan were exceptions that proved the rule. Angela Merkel's ambivalence on the Iraq campaign though should not be forgotten (notably she was pro German involvement when in opposition and changed her tune once she gained power - responding to 89% opposition in public opinion, or finally waking up to the reality of the situation and what was involved?).

That leading European members of NATO can actually stand up and be counted on this issue though is a rare event indeed. Flying pigs overhead? If there are - beware! The droppings will make those emanating from pigeons seem really minor in comparison!

Which does not mean that what is going on in Syria is not significant. To repeat for the third or fourth time - this is a civil war and needs a negotiated settlement. But when you have Hezbollah fighters appearing on one side and fighters from Al-Qaeda appearing on the other (yes, I know that they are the minorities of the fighters in both cases, but even so), it is not a time for taking sides. Both are pretty evil and whoever wins will hardly be an ally.

The answer to the conflict probably lies with Russia and the Arab League who will have some influence with the parties ..... and Iran, whose new President is likely to be less strident and unapproachable than his predecessor. But adding fuel to the fire by supporting one side over the other offers little by way of a solution.

Eventually for a rare once some sense has appeared simultaneously from the UK and Germany. Now if they can for once also bang their heads together on getting some negotiations moving - who knows? Well after the German elections are over next month anyway!