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WORLD CITIZEN LETTER: 525
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WCL 525 August 2006
A letter to Labour about torture
British world citizens can take a particular interest in the current antics of the government led by Ramsay McBlair, as he has been termed. Since he led a party that he proclaimed was 'New Labour' into power in 1997, Blair has made it his business to abandon many Labour Party characteristics. Unfortunately these included good as well as bad aspects of a formerly left-wing political grouping.
The Labour party has never been pacifist but it did once have a proud record of internationalism in foreign affairs. Its good intentions did often lead to disasters, but when Harold Wilson resisted American calls to embroil Britain alongside the U.S. in the Vietnam chamber of horrors, he did well. Not so well when he appointed a government arms-salesman to assit the obscene export of weapons that Britain is notorious for.
Now, however, we have a 'New' Labour government breaking even its own limitations on such exports. Israel, at war and guilty of war crimes in Lebanon, is being aided materially and morally (if the word is not oxymoronic) by the U.K. The bombs helping to turn a million Lebanese into refugees are being sent from America to Israel via Britain, with government blessing, diverted to RAF bases when civilian airports were deemed inappropriate.
But what else is the Labour Party now responsible for? One example: the export of instruments of torture such as thumb-cuffs, arms-cuffs and even 'sting sticks' with barbs attached to metal rods which are produced in China. Here's suggestion for local activists: try getting some of these for the next constituency party meeting to provoke a good discussion. Like most weapons, they are only to be sold to places "where they will not be used for repressive purposes". Does anyone know a likely location for these non-repressive appliances for torturing?
But torture is usually small-scale stuff. Our exporters can do things on a much larger scale, witness what is happening in Lebanon. Last year this country sold two and half billion pounds worth of arms-related exports. Just thnk how effective an air-to-surface guided missile can be! You (or your government and party) can be and are responsible for these graceful lethal mechanisms, which can sink a ship, collapse a house or even, perhaps, a block of flats. Just recall the pictures of Lebanon with large buildings brought down to rubble by the application of an Israeli rocket!
Thnk seriously about all this: it is your responsibility. You elected (and support) the government. Your taxes are paying for export guarantees that save some arms-exporters from the losses of their own mistakes (exporting to Saddam Hussein and other losers). You supposedly benefit from the economy booms provoked by the exporters; and at times your taxes may be lessened because of the profitability of the arms exporters, who also pay a few taxes, if not many.
Tony Blair is now being blamed for tying British policy so close to an obsessed George W. Bush in support for Israel and war crimes. But that is not enough. To support his giant ego the Cabinet and the party M.P.s have kept him in power and in authority even after his aberrations have become grossly apparent. The largest demonstration eve seen on the streets of London did not deflect Blair or the party from the disastrous Iraq war: if the Labour Party cannot recover its conscience it will not deserve to survive, let alone win power again.
John Roberts
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