Erstellt am: 30. 8. 2013 - 14:36 Uhr

Britain Backs Out

Reality Check: British parliament defies Prime Minister David Cameron on Syria military action.

One of the main headlines today on Syria is actually almost a news story about Britain, and the setback for Prime Minister David Cameron of last night’s vote in the lower house of Parliament against military action.

EPA/PA

"A devastating blow to his authority" is how the Guardian describes it, with one MP shouting that Cameron should resign.

Britain has traditionally been an ally of the US in matters like this, but the current situation is haunted by the controversy stirred up by the decision in 2003 to go to war in Iraq.

That decision was based on the argument that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction which were a threat to security. A subsequent inquiry found the evidence to be, at best, tenuous. In retrospect, many in Britain might say ten years ago the country was sent to war on false pretences. It's not surprising then, that there's no appetite for a strike on Syria now.

But if the vote against military action was a blow to David Cameron, how big a blow is it to President Barack Obama as he contemplates his next steps?

A report from correspondent Olly Barratt in London and international security expert Shashank Joshi: