Dear New Statesman
James Purnell commented in the NS (21/2/11) that ‘the worst part of the anti-war argument was saying that we shouldn’t champion democracy’, but I don’t recall anyone involved in the anti-war movement expressing their opposition to the Iraq war because democracy isn’t desirable. I do, however, recall several people expressing their shock and awe of the Blair government’s continuous contempt of democracy, as each Stop the War demo was studiously ignored. The war was based on lies about WMD, and for Purnell to claim that the war was about exporting democracy is absolutely infuriating. Thankfully, in the next edition of the NS John Pilger once again cuts through the self-serving nonsense by speaking of US imperialism – a ‘war on social justice and democracy’ – which has been supported, in the main, by Britain (28/2/11). Or rather, British governments – people like James Purnell don’t speak for me.
Yours Sincerely
Neil Laurenson
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