The civil war in Syria is almost over. The rebels have been crushed all summer and are beaten except for a few pockets around Damascus. Assad has recaptured most of the towns that have fallen to the rebels over the past two years, and if we leave them alone, the whole thing will be over in a few weeks.
Just one problem. Assad wasn't supposed to win. The west have been financing the rebels from Saudi and supplying them with guns and bombs through Turkey. Our investment is down the toilet.
Hence, we have decided to try and stop the rebels losing, and to finally help them directly. Our ships were steaming to the area (stopping off a Gibralta) long before the alledged use of chemical weapons. Planes and men were being gathered on Cyprus long before Parliament was recalled. The decission for some kind of military engagement was taken weeks, if not months ago.
Unfortunately, the British people have lost its appetite for losing pointless expensive wars, and a small group of conservative MPs and Ministers were able to reign in Cameron. Blair faced a fare bigger rebellion in 2003 when 165 Labour MPs voted against the war. But Blair was aided by most of the Conservative Party who voted with him for war, and 10 years and 444 dead British personel later, there were very nearly enough of them to try and repeat the same mistake.