The Death-Knell of War

The death-knell of war is being struck. The excuse for it this time is "to establish democracy". The governments of the USA and Great Britain are bent on "removing evil" from Earth. The holey campaign started in Afghanistan and now it is Iraq's turn. Tomorrow, they promise, would be the turn of other evils.
We all know, the "Islamic" Afghanistan and Iran, and for that matter even the "Islamic faction" in Palestine were themselves the creation of Western policies in their quest to oppose the "evil empire" of the old Soviet Union. The Ben Ladens of this world were brought out of caves and turned into powerful political leaders by non other than the same crusaders who now want to establish democracy. Saddam Hossein of today is the same semi-fascistic despot who was armed to the teeth a couple of decades ago to do the bidding for Western interests in the Gulf. Now that they have served their purpose why not turn their removal into a bonanza for the war machine which feeds the great military-industrial complex which backs our modern crusaders.
Are our modern-day crusaders really interested in democracy? Millions of people all over the world who have been at the receiving end of these policies beg to differ. Decades of brutal dictatorship in Iraq and Iran went totally unnoticed by the same powers that are now shedding crocodile tears at the graves of democracy. Tens of thousands of innocent people including pregnant women and children have been brutally murdered by the same clerical and secular fascists who are only now declared to be part and parcel of the "axis of evil". Even the protestations of millions of people who have been forced into exile in the very same Western countries did not prompt these crusaders to stop any of the lucrative deals that oils the medieval repressive apparatus that was the cause of all this and which has destroyed all forms of artistic and intellectual freedom.
Whilst we welcome the newly found interest in democracy in the Western media and whilst totally opposing these brutal regimes we must also declare our complete opposition to the proposed war which would strike the death-knell for millions of new victims of the same policies that have already been paid by human suffering on a scale not seen since the second world war. This is a war which has no aim other than a new division of the world. Those who want democracy in the Middle East should break all links with all the despotic rulers who have turned the whole region into a concentration camp and should defend those of us who have been fighting against repression and have long been the real champions of democracy.

Every morning for the past five weeks I've watched the children walk to school from the balcony of my hotel across the street.

Today I was asked to leave this hotel for my own safety - to the right is a phone exchange that was bombed during the last war.
I'll miss the sights and sounds of those children in the bright light of spring mornings and I worry for their future.
Almost everyday the death toll rises as the US and British bombings increase to the North and South of Baghdad.
Having produced a documentary during the 10 year Bougainville War, I'm well versed in the realities of war.
War's major products are death, destruction and suffering. The ones that usually suffer the most are the women and children, the weak and the poor.

Having travelled freely while filming in Iraq, I can assure you that the people of Iraq don't want the suffering of another war. They wish to continue their lives without the daily threat of death and destruction.

The people that I have met are confused by our governments actions towards their country and are truly grateful for those that express the desire for peace.

Wayne Coles-Janess
Producer
Ipso-facto Productions

Writing from America, most people I know are sick to contemplate the savagery and stupidity of our president and government. As a nation, we have forsaken world opinion, consequently, instead of converting the world's sympathy after the 9/11 atacks into any positive unity, our so-called leaders have chosen to go it alone, not only against Iraq, but against most countries.

We are angry. We fear what will happen in Iraq and we fear what is happening to the US--a country that was a beacon of hope for many people is becoming a blood-thirsty animal.

in Australia 75% of the population is against the war and our involvement in it, and despite this our Prime Minister is going ahead, it is beyond understanding

in peace

Could it be possible that we've forgotten histories lessons? Has there been one war that has ever ended all wars? One war that has brought peace? The answer to all of these is no. What can the death of anyone accomplish? We must resist these violent impulses that drive this world. As it has been said, those who live by the sword must die by the sword. I hope that we do not suffer more casualties along the way.