What difference can UK bombs make in Syria?

Readers discuss the UK vote to bomb Syria. Other topics: Taxi apps, US gun laws and praising cleaners.

Readers discuss the significance of the UK joining in the fight against ISIL in Syria. (Lefteris Pitarakis / AP)

With regard to H A Hellyer's comment piece, 'Syrian solution' forgets about ordinary Syrians (December 4), I am not sure the UK parliament approving its forces joining in the bombing of ISIL in Syria will make much difference when there are already so many countries doing that.

I think they voted for it to show solidarity with France after the Paris attacks.

I truly hope the negotiations will hurry up and produce a solution to the Syrian conflict and end this terrible suffering.

The Syrian people have suffered enough. The parties involved need to compromise because there is not going to be a clear winner in this conflict. Neither side seems capable of inflicting a complete defeat on the other so a negotiated solution is desperately needed.

Ali Cuuex, Dubai

How many Syrians need to lose their lives and homes, on top of all the Syrians who have already had to flee their homeland?

This makes it sound like the whole of Syria needs to be erased from the face of the Earth. Syrian people matter and their country matters. They deserve help.

Bombing them into oblivion is not going to stop ISIL infiltrating into other areas. You need to eradicate the insidious weed that is ISIL by the root through educating people about its insidious, evil, putrefied, perverted and venomous nature.

That is the only way to start purging the world of them.

Jean Francoise Ng Lewis, Dubai

Let the surrounding Arab states handle the Syrian issue. With the Assad regime, ISIL and Al Nusra Front, there’s no real positive opposition for the West to support.

Western governments can focus on stopping terrorism from coming into their own countries instead.

Chris Reid, Dubai

Taxi apps should spur innovation

Having read your editorial, Apps can give taxi operators new ideas (December 4), I don't understand why the authorities would want to ban a perfectly fine service.

Uber and Careem are properly registered businesses, operating with well-maintained cars and safe, polite, reliable and punctual drivers who know how to get to the desired destination.

As your editorial argues, perhaps the taxi companies should learn from these great companies, rather than trying to get them banned.

Wiltrud Matthes, Dubai

As a non-driver, it would often take the RTA up to two hours to send a taxi to me to take me home from work, which is not near a metro station or a bus stop. This problem became worse after they stopped allowing users to book taxis in advance.

Uber’s service has been such a relief – no more endless waiting and frustrated follow-up calls to the RTA at peak times.

Jen Cuthbertson, Dubai

Uber and Careem have amazing service and are a great solution when RTA taxis are unavailable.

The RTA should just adapt its service to Uber and Careem standards. Competition is healthy.

Karina Sukatschew, Dubai

Are US gun laws the real solution?

Your editorial, Is US gun control finally in sight? (December 4), notes that the constitution guarantees the right to keep and bear arms.

The US has significant new gun laws that did not exist 30 years ago but for some reason mass shootings are an issue today.

We should be asking what has changed in the last 30 to 40 years that is creating a culture of violence rather than looking to restrict the constitutionally protected rights of law-abiding Americans.

Rick Hood, Abu Dhabi

As a former serviceman in the US infantry, I believe gun control is needed in the US.

I support owning guns for hunting but AR-15s are essentially assault rifles, not hunting rifles.

I also see massive gun control as a threat to other rights and it has the potential to lead to a police state.

That said, I consider the fanaticism for the second amendment by some right-wingers to be specious, as they couldn’t care much less about the first amendment and other rights.

Elvin Ross, US

Cleaners are the unsung heroes

I share your praise for the cleaners (National Day's 'unsung heroes' take to the streets to clean rubbish left behind after celebrations, December 3).

They do an amazing job to keep the Corniche clean even on days when there are no events on. Hats off to them.

Claire McLaurin, Abu Dhabi