[mrmistoffelees]

Originally Posted by Osem

Do me a favour. You only have to see what happened after Merkel's ill judged comments for as much proof as you'll ever get in a situation like this. Do you really think that if Cameron suddenly announced an open door and guaranteed permanent refuge, loads more wouldn't head straight here in order to find a better life? Whether economic migrants or genuine refugees, these people are desperate and there a countless more millions who are just as desperate. I don't think you really believe they wouldn't come here if a major stumbling block in their way was suddenly removed. The very fact that Australia has to a large extent solved what was a growing problem there by doing the opposite and being much tougher only adds to the argument IMHO. It didn't stop the boats on day one, week one or month one - it took time, but slowly as the word got around that migrants would be stopped from getting to the mainland and taken to some island in the middle of nowhere the numbers fell massively.

In the case of Europe, it's unlikely we can get those already well on the way to turn back now but we do need to stop more following on behind. We need to stop encouraging them to make that journey and help them much closer to home.

If you cannot differentiate between the two then there is something severely wrong with you.

---------- Post added at 12:22 ---------- Previous post was at 12:21 ----------

Originally Posted by Hugh

Because that's not newsworthy or emotive.

There was a brief mention in the press a couple of days ago about £100 million from the UK Aid budget being used to improve the refugee camps.

Also, how do we sort out a four-way civil war in Syria, and Shia vs Sunni conflict in Iraq.

The reason we have the current problems in Iraq, Libya, and Syria is that we tried to export our version of democracy to countries that have no history or ability to support it, due to historical and religious conflicts - Bush et al thought it was easy, and look where we are now....

Funny how the people who are shouting down the taking in of refugees keep on choosing to ignore this rather important fact.........