The commentators                    26-09-14

...on military action against Isis

By acting carefully not bombastically, and by making common cause with both Saudi Arabia and Iran to confront a common Isis enemy, Britain could possibly help realign Middle East politics to overcome the violently corrosive Sunni/Shia faultline in the region. A big ask, but a worthwhile one.
- Peter Hain, The Guardian
In cold, hard, logical terms, the rationale for fighting “there” rather than “here” simply does not stand up to scrutiny. First, all those responsible for the atrocities enumerated by Fallon were either born or educated in Britain. Any trigger for their actions should thus be sought “here” rather than “there”. Second, they all gave testimony or left statements leaving no doubt as to their motive.
- Mary Dejevsky, The Independent
Fraser Nelson
For all the drama, today’s vote in the House of Commons will make very little difference to the military campaign now under way against Isil. The war has started without Britain, and our MPs will today discuss whether we should play a minor supporting role. The United States has all the bombs and missiles it needs and is already being helped by a rather impressive list of allies: Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
- Fraser Nelson, Daily Telegraph
As today’s generation of young men and women prepare to take to the skies in anger once again over Iraq, the terrible prospect of capture after being shot down must be at the forefront of their thoughts. But this time it is even more chilling — for the brutal, public murder of ISIS hostages by beheading is well understood by all involved.
- John Nichol, Daily Mail
Islam’s wars are not Britain’s business. We owe their human victims all the aid we can to relieve suffering. We do not owe them our incompetence in trying to recast their politics. That is a task for the Arabs and their neighbours, not for Britain’s soldiers and taxpayers.
- Simon Jenkins, The Guardian
Thursday 25 September Judges for the Editorial Intelligence comment awards announced their shortlists today, with ten nominations for the FT, nine for the Times, five for the Guardian, four for the Independent - and two for SubScribe. 
The Times and Sunday Times scored a clean sweep in nominations for the main award of commentariat of the year, which will be decided between David Aaronovitch, Camilla Cavendish, Daniel Finkelstein and last year's winner Caitlin Moran.
Guardian's Jay Rayner was shortlisted in the food writer category, but said that he did not wish to be considered as that award is sponsored by Tesco. 
The awards will be presented on November 25. See the full shortlists here
Apart from the twelve referendum splashes of the past two days, the subject has made a front-page lead on only five occasions this year:Yes, it's been busy with Iraq, Gaza, Ukraine, the rise of Ukip, sex scandals, the hacking trial, Mr Cameron's holidays, floods and heatwaves. But one would still expect the potential break-up of the UK  - or the liberation of Scotland, depending on your point of view - to be able to put up a better fight against the 30 house price splashes, the 25 on migrants and the 26 on Madeleine McCann. I stopped counting when I got to 60 soap opera and "reality TV" offerings.
- Wake us up before they go-go
A referendum miscellany Odds and ends from the campaign trail
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Comment digest courtesy of
Editorial Intelligence
September 25
Labour conference
September 24
Miliband's speech
September 23
Labour conference
September 22
Referendum fallout
September 19
Scottish referendum
September 18
Scottish referendum
September 17
Scottish referendum
September 16
Scottish referendum
September 15
Scottish referendum
September 12
Scottish referendum
September 11
Scottish referendum
September 10
Scottish referendum
September 9
Scottish referendum
September 8
Scottish referendum
September 5
Scottish referendum
September 4
Nato and Isis
September 3
Scottish independence
September 2
Hacked photographs
September 1
British politics
August 29
Carswell defection
August 28
Rotherham scandal
August 27
Islamic militants
August 26
Middle East
August 22
James Foley
August 21
James Foley
August 20
British politics
August 19
Iraq
August 18
Iraq
August 15
A levels
August 14
Iraq
August 13
Robin Williams
August 12
Iraq
August 11
Iraq
August 8
Boris Johnson
August 7
Boris Johnson
August 6
Baroness Warsi
August 5
First World War centenary
August 4
Gaza