Stop the War Coalition letter in Guardian opposing air strikes Along with most British people, we opposed an attack on Iraq in 2003. The brutal reality of the invasion and occupation confirmed our worst fears. At least half a million died and the country was devastated. Now, less than three years after US troops were pulled out, the US is bombing again. The British government is considering joining military action, not just in Iraq but in Syria too. All the experience of the varied military action taken by the west in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya shows that such interventions kill innocents, destroy infrastructure and fragment societies, and in the process spread bitterness and violence. While we all reject the politics and methods of Isis, we have to recognise that it is in part a product of the last disastrous intervention, which helped foster sectarianism and regional division. It has also been funded and aided by some of the west’s allies, especially Saudi Arabia. More bombing, let alone boots on the ground, will only exacerbate the situation. We urge the government to rule out any further military action in Iraq or Syria. Caryl Churchill playwright; Brian Eno musician; Tariq Ali writer and broadcaster; Jeremy Corbyn MP; Lindsey German convenor of the Stop the War Coalition; Diane Abbott MP; Mark Rylance actor; Ken Loach film director; Michael Rosen author and broadcaster; Kate Hudson general secretary of CND; John McDonnell MP;Sami Ramadani Iraqi writer and campaigner; Len McCluskey general secretary of Unite; Amir Amarani film director; Mohammed Kozbar vice-president of the Muslim Association of Britain; Dr Anas Altikriti; Walter Wolfgang Labour CND; Andrew Murray chief of staff Unite
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 09:10:31 +0000
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