Innocents are Dying but still Bush and Blair Refuse to Call for an Immediate Ceasefire
Like most people I found the pictures from Qana of more innocent lives being lost through indiscriminate bombing by the Israelis distressing in the extreme. In the Observer this morning it is also revealed that the Israelis are using in civilian areas cluster bombs, which are designed to kill and maim in such an indiscriminate way. In addition it is reported that the US has delivered at least 100 "bunker buster" bombs containing depleted uranium warheads.
In the face of such immense suffering on all sides it is incomprehensible why the Prime Minister has determinedly followed George Bush in refusing to call for an immediate ceasefire. This refusal is being interpreted rightly or wrongly as part of a joint US/UK strategy of allowing Israel sufficient time to invade south Lebanon, wipe out Hezbollah and extend its border to annex a buffer zone between Israel and Lebanon. If this is the case I believe that this cynical strategy will not only fail but will also prove to be counter productive in the long term by breeding further hatred and future terrorist activity.
What is needed is for the US and UK to join up with the rest of the world calling for an immediate ceasefire. Israel will not be able to withstand pressure from its major backer and arms supplier, the US. This will also enable the creation of a united front with the Arab world in pressurising Hezbollah to enter into serious peace negotiatons, including the exchange of prisoners.
Many have been angered to discover that Britain has been used as the transit station for US weapons being transported to Israel for use in Lebanon. Now that we know not only the type of weapons being used but also how these weapons are being used in an indiscriminate way against civilans, the Prime Minister must now refuse the Bush regime the right to transport these weapons through our country and airspace. If the Prime Minister refuses I believe that any workers associated with this transport activity have every right to refuse to assist in transporting these weapons on the grounds that they are being used in a way which is contary to international law.
If a ceasefire is not achieved within the next 48 hours I am calling for the recall of Parliament so that Parliament can itself be given the opportunity of calling for an immediate ceasefire on behalf of the British people and debating an alternative strategy to the failed Bush/Blair approach.
Many now also believe that at a time of world crisis like this the spectacle of a British Prime Minister taking time out to pander to the whims of Rupert Murdoch by virtually playing the role of an after dinner speaker at a Murdoch staff conference will be interpreted by some as demeaning the office of British Prime Minister.
In the face of such immense suffering on all sides it is incomprehensible why the Prime Minister has determinedly followed George Bush in refusing to call for an immediate ceasefire. This refusal is being interpreted rightly or wrongly as part of a joint US/UK strategy of allowing Israel sufficient time to invade south Lebanon, wipe out Hezbollah and extend its border to annex a buffer zone between Israel and Lebanon. If this is the case I believe that this cynical strategy will not only fail but will also prove to be counter productive in the long term by breeding further hatred and future terrorist activity.
What is needed is for the US and UK to join up with the rest of the world calling for an immediate ceasefire. Israel will not be able to withstand pressure from its major backer and arms supplier, the US. This will also enable the creation of a united front with the Arab world in pressurising Hezbollah to enter into serious peace negotiatons, including the exchange of prisoners.
Many have been angered to discover that Britain has been used as the transit station for US weapons being transported to Israel for use in Lebanon. Now that we know not only the type of weapons being used but also how these weapons are being used in an indiscriminate way against civilans, the Prime Minister must now refuse the Bush regime the right to transport these weapons through our country and airspace. If the Prime Minister refuses I believe that any workers associated with this transport activity have every right to refuse to assist in transporting these weapons on the grounds that they are being used in a way which is contary to international law.
If a ceasefire is not achieved within the next 48 hours I am calling for the recall of Parliament so that Parliament can itself be given the opportunity of calling for an immediate ceasefire on behalf of the British people and debating an alternative strategy to the failed Bush/Blair approach.
Many now also believe that at a time of world crisis like this the spectacle of a British Prime Minister taking time out to pander to the whims of Rupert Murdoch by virtually playing the role of an after dinner speaker at a Murdoch staff conference will be interpreted by some as demeaning the office of British Prime Minister.
posted by John at 12:17 PM
5 Comments:
Is Tony deaf? We said "Not in our name". Do we have to repeat it?
Thank God we have someone like John McDonnell to speak out for us; we need to elect him leader as he will not stand by like Bush and Blair have done. I hope I never again have to see pictures like I saw tonight on the news of dead children being dug out of the rubble. I had just got my own children to sleep when I came down to see the news pictures in Feargal Keane's report for the BBC and I'm now thinking of all the bereaved parents who no longer have their children with them at all tonight. Remember when the Iraq war broke out they were hoping not to lose any soldiers at all, then it became commomplace to hear of many deaths there daily and now it would seem that dead children are becoming commonplace. This cannot go on and although Blair says tonight that he is now calling for an immediate ceasefire we still need to ask why has been "fiddling while Rome burns!" This is not the sort of leader we want to represent and lead us in the Labour party and in government.
Stop The War coalition are circulating the following video clip. I thought it might be pertinent to you recall of Parliament idea you float here.
At last we have a truce, short term as it may be. If it leads to a ceasefire, I wonder what happens about the weapons that have just been shipped? perhaps a refund may be due.
Blair the Butcher would never have been able to get such a hold of everything if you pathetic load of flunkeys in the London Parliament had not backed him at every turn. It is of no use to the country to pretend it is nothing to do with you now. GET RID OF HIM WHILE HE IS ON HIS BLOODY HOLIDAYS !!!!!!
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