Assad says British bombing in Syria will fail, ridicules PM Cameron

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad speaks during a TV interview in Damascus, Syria in this still image taken from a video on November 29, 2015. REUTERS/Reuters TV courtesy of Czech Television
 
LONDON (Reuters) - British air strikes on Islamic State will fail to defeat the militant group, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said in an interview with the Sunday Times newspaper, mocking Prime Minister David Cameron's strategy in the region.

British lawmakers approved the bombing of Islamic State targets in Syria on Thursday. Hours after that approval, the Royal Air Force struck the oilfields that Cameron's government says are being used to fund attacks on the West.

Speaking in an interview conducted before the vote in parliament, the result of which had been widely anticipated, Assad said Cameron's strategy would make the situation worse, not better.

"They are going to fail again," he said. "You cannot cut out part of the cancer. You have to extract it. This kind of operation is like cutting out part of the cancer. That will make it spread in the body faster."

Erap wants Bongbong to be his running mate

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada will run again for president next year if the disqualification of Sen. Grace Poe from the presidential race becomes final and Vice President Jejomar Binay is removed as a presidential candidate due to the corruption cases against him.

Estrada said he can substitute for Romel Mendoza, secretary-general of Kalipunan ng Masang Pilipino (Kampil), which is allied with his Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP). He wants Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to be his running mate, Estrada told The STAR in an interview.

“If I will run again, Bongbong Marcos will be my running mate,” he said.

“He is a strong candidate. He has the so-called solid North vote. He is also strong here in Metro Manila because of the housing programs that benefited thousands of Manileños in the 1970s when Mrs. Imelda Marcos was governor of the Metro Manila Commission.”

He has until Dec. 10 to make official his presidential candidacy, Estrada said.

“Many things can still happen in the remaining six or seven days before Dec. 10,” he said.