The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
[Main archive index/search] [List information] [Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq Homepage]
Dear EJC, Many thanks for your "letter-writing campaign" suggestions. I already wrote to my MP (Conservative) and did get a reply. It was the usual "it is Saddam Hussein who is depriving the children of food and medicine" etc. However, he also wrote: "I do not believe that bombing alone will solve the problems we have in the area". I wonder what else he has in mind - perhaps he doesn't know?! Maybe WE should try to be more proactive in thinking of alternative scenarios? I shall write this time to Menzies Campbell. Perhaps there is more flexibility in the Lib Dem position? I'd like to find out. I feel they may be less absolutely entrenched in self-created myths than the other two parties. I would also like to ask: what about other countries? I am rather uneasy that other countries, especially those that are traditionally human-rights conscious like Sweden, just don't seem to care. At the government level, at least. But I must confess I don't know for sure. Does anybody know whether there are groups in other countries, like ours, that are aghast at the humanitarian disaster? My view is that "coalition" policy will only change if there are serious protests from overseas. Unfortunately, in spite of early indications to the contrary, the British and Americans seem to have got away with it and sensitised the world to bombing Iraq. Look forward to your views, everyone. Mark Calderbank -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a discussion list run by Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To be removed/added, email soc-casi-discuss-request@lists.cam.ac.uk, NOT the whole list. Archived at http://linux.clare.cam.ac.uk/~saw27/casi/discuss.html