IAWM statement opn the london bombing

international | anti-war / imperialism | other press Friday July 08, 2005 19:00 by pat - iawm

IAWM CONDEMNS LONDON BOMINGS AS DEPLORABLE ACTION BUT SAYS ATTACKS ARE BITTER FRUITS OF BRITISH INVOLVMENT IN OCCUPATION OF IRAQ.

In a statement the Irish Anti-War Movement has condemned the spate of bomb attacks in London as a “deplorable and senseless” action.

The IAWM said, however, that the attacks were also a tragic result of the US/UK led war and occupation in Iraq.

Richard Boyd Barrett, chairperson of the IAWM said:
“These bomb attacks that have claimed the lives of dozens of innocent people and injured many more must be condemned utterly. This is a deplorable and senseless action that will further no cause.

Some of our own members and many of our comrades in the British anti-war movement were attending an anti-war and socialist conference in Russell Square, where one of the bombs exploded. No purpose could be served killing innocent British citizens many of who marched and protested against the Iraq war.

However, this atrocity is also the almost inevitable result of UK involvement in the criminal war and occupation of Iraq. Britain has become a target because it is the main military and political supporter of the US led war in Iraq – a war that has claimed up to 100,000 lives and which is daily visiting equally terrible atrocities on the innocent citizens of Iraq.

Over the last week Tony Blair has masqueraded as the saviour of the world’s poor in a an effort to divert attention away from Britain’s criminal involvement in the bloody war and occupation in Iraq. It was predictable that the war in Iraq would eventually come home to Britain with tragic consequences. This terrible atrocity is the bitter fruits of continuing British involvement in the occupation of Iraq.

Every day for the last two years innocent Iraqi’s have been murdered in equally barbaric actions as a result of the US/UK’s terrorist war in Iraq. Their terrorism in Iraq has come back to haunt them with tragic results for innocent British people.

The Blair government should withdraw their troops from Iraq immediately if they do not wish to be responsible for the deaths of more innocent people.

This terrible tragedy should also serve as a grim warning to the Irish government that they are also risking the lives of Irish citizens as long as they continue to facilitate the movement of thousands of US troops through Shannon airport on route to Iraq every week. The bombing in Britain and in Spain before it shows that as long as the bloody occupation of Iraq continues any country involved is a potential target.

Ordinary people in this country and across the world must redouble their efforts now to force and end to the US/UK occupation of Iraq if we are to stop more innocent blood being shed.