Debate results and upcoming events

Last Thursday, we returned to the Harcourt Arms for one of our closest debates of the year on one of the msot burning issues in current affairs: what to do about Iran.

You can find the full summary below, but needless to say all four speakers were on top form, so a big thank you to Babs Williams, Michael Worthington, Shaughan Dolan, and Janneke van Leeuwen who made her debut in style. Thanks also to Olly Glover who chaired the debate with charm and authority, but as ever our deepest gratitude is extended to you, our audience members, who helped make this one of our most nailbiting debates with your informed comments and questions. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

Below you will find a list of upcoming events for the rest of the month, detailing locations, dates, times, and formats.

Upcoming events:

Monday 14th November (today) - London Cogers - Old Bank of England pub, Fleet Street - 7pm - free speech forum to discuss the events of the last month - admission free for first timers and voluntary donations requested of regular attendees - http://cogers.org/

Wednesday 23rd November - Westminster Cogers - Plumbers Arms, Lower Belgrave Street, Victoria - 7pm - free speech forum to discuss the events of the last month - admission free for first timers and voluntary donations requested of regular attendees - http://cogers.org/

Thursday 24th November - next meeting of Central London Debating Society - details to be confirmed this weekend

Debate Summary:

This House would disarm Iran by force

Preliminary vote: For 4, Against 8, Abstentions 8

Definition: A NATO led invasion of Iran to remove it's nuclear weapons making capability and replace the current Iranian regieme


Key arguments:
Prop: Iran is developing a program of nuclear weapons building as it has done in the past.

Opp: There is no evidence that Iran is building nuclear weapons.

Prop: Attempts to make Iran give up its nuclear weapons through diplomacy have failed. War is now the only option.

Opp: Diplomatic avenues are still open. Going to war would worsen diplomatic relations with Russia and China.

Prop: Iran acquiring nukes would lead to regional instability in the Middle East as all those opposed to Iran would be encouraged to develop them.

Opp: Israel has already acquired nuclear weapons. If Iran had them the situation would become balanced.

Prop: The Iranian government ignores the human rights of its people. The current Iranian government is bad for the people of Iran. This regime needs to be removed to protect the people of Iran.

Opp: The security of the people of Iran would be destroyed by an invasion as has happened in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Prop: The invasion will result in a pro-Western regime being set up in Iran.

Opp: The leading candidates in any post-invasion Iranian state will be anti-Western as a result of the chaos brought by the war.

Prop: Unless NATO invades Iran, Israel will go it alone. This will result in more civilian casualties.

Opp: If Israel tried to invade Iran by itself we would have to go to war with Israel.

Final vote: For 4, Against 8, Abstentions 7
Final vote (no abstentions): For 9, Against 10


MOTION DEFEATED


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