- CounterPunch.org - https://www.counterpunch.org -

Stop Bombing Syria: a Letter from Mark Rylance, Brian Eno, John Pilger et al.

We are gravely concerned at the possibility of a parliamentary decision to bomb Syria. David Cameron is planning such a vote in the House of Commons in the near future. He is doing so in the face of much evidence that such an action would exacerbate the situation it is supposed to solve. Already we have seen the killing of civilians and the exacerbation of a refugee crisis which is largely the product of wars in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan.

The US and its allies have dropped 20,000 bombs on Iraq and Syria in the past year, with little effect. We fear that this latest extension of war will only worsen the threat of terrorism, as have the previous wars involving the British government. Cameron is cynically using the refugee crisis to urge more war. He should not be allowed to.

Mark Rylance

Charlotte Church

John Williams

Mairead Maguire Nobel peace laureate

Brian Eno

Len McCluskey General secretary, Unite the Union

Christine Shawcroft Labour NEC

Diane Abbott MP

Jenny Tonge

Caroline Lucas MP

Andrew Murray Chair, Stop the War Campaign

Lindsey German Convenor, STWC

Tariq Ali

John Pilger

Tim Lezard

David Edgar

Alan Gibbons

Andy de la Tour

Michael Rosen

Eugene Skeef

Victoria Brittain

Anders Lustgarten

David Gentleman

David Swanson

Gerry Grehan Peace People Belfast