Socialists join fight to halt Star Wars madness

Socialists join fight to halt Star Wars madness

George W Bush has made clear that he intends to go ahead with his ‘Son of Star wars’ project – and tear up the existing Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in the process.

Bush’s determination to take this crazy path, which will in all likelihood provoke a new arms race, is fuelled by his close relationship with the oil and arms industries.

Tony Blair, while refusing to make any definite statement on the question, is clearly happy to let his new friend in the White House use the US bases in Britain as part of this macabre operation.

Both internationally and here in Britain a new mass movement of opposition to this nuclear madness needs to be built, building on actions like the mass protest at Faslane earlier in the year.

As Frank Ormston, the Socialist Alliance candidate for the City of York has said "Together with others, the Socialist Alliance is committed to taking action to stop the USA using Menwith and Fylingdales in Yorkshire as outposts for its world-threatening NMD scheme.

"The casual attitude of both Bush and Blair to the violation of the Anti-Ballistic Missiles Treaty of 1972 is terrifying. Their aggressive stance will incite other countries to develop further their nuclear capabilities.

"Instead of the peace dividend we were promised with the end of the Cold War, we now have a renewed and utterly pointless war-drive. Virtually alone in Europe, Tony Blair, Geoff Hoon, Robin Cook and their New Labour colleagues are giving Bush and the American right-wing crucial support and credibility.

"We say to Labour members: join our fight for nuclear disarmament, cuts in military spending, and a British foreign policy independent of US influence."