Star Wars 2 - a threat to world peace
George W may not know where Iraq is, but he understands that it is useful to up the ante against "rogue states" in order to back up the need for Star Wars 2, spending on which formed the centrepiece of his first budget.
In the months preceding the American and British bombing of Iraq, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Gulf war, too many influential voices had been demanding an end to sanctions against the country.
Too many had recognised that the result of these reparations were being wreaked on the children, women and men of Iraq and not on Saddam, who looks as secure as he did 10 long years ago.
The US government was also concerned about the increasing level of media attention given to the number of allied personnel from the Gulf war, as well as those who had fought in the Balkans, suffering debilitating illnesses.
The depleted uranium and other heavy metals that were used in these conflicts do not distinguish between friend and foe in their long term destructive effects.
None of this could be allowed to stand in the way of Bush’s determination to go ahead with the National Missile Defence project, otherwise known as Star Wars 2. So yet again Baghdad and its people were the target.
And yet again Bomber Blair demonstrated his craven following of whatever suits the American establishment, following Bush where no other country would in this outrageous war crime.
In the aftermath, the real arguments begin to come out from Downing Street, while Parliament is conveniently in recess. After Bush’s election, Blair had refused to make any statement on Britain’s attitude to NMD, in particular whether the bases at Fylingdales and Menwith Hill would be used to assist this new arms race.
Now Blair, along with his American counterparts are trying to peddle the ridiculous lie that NMD will permit a reduction in nuclear weaponry!
It is true that the US plan to take out of commission some hardware which is now past its sell-by date. But the idea that what is planned could make the world a safer place beggars belief.
Star Wars 2 is the biggest threat to world peace since the signing of the Anti-Ballistic Missiles Treaty in 1972. China, India and Russia have all responded by stepping up their own programmes.
All socialists must ensure that non-co-operation with Star Wars is made a central issue in the forthcoming election – as well as continuing to call for the lifting of sanctions against Iraq.