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UK Archbishop Calls Bush Threats to Syria, Iran "Murderous Folly"

Via NY Transfer News Collective  *  All the News that Doesn't Fit
 
The Guardian - Oct 6, 2007
http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,330901183-110878,00.html

Archbishop attacks neocons over US threat to bomb Iran

by Stephen Bates

Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has criticised the 
neoconservatives of the Bush administration and accused them of 
"potentially murderous folly" for suggesting military action against 
Syria and Iran.

Dr Williams has just returned from Syria where he met Iraqi Christian 
refugees,. He warned of a problem of almost unprecedented scale as up
to 1.5 million Iraqis have fled to neighbouring countries.

Speaking to the BBC, the archbishop, who opposed the invasion of Iraq 
from the outset, said: "When people talk about further destabilisation 
of the region - and you read some American political advisers speaking 
of action against Syria and Iran - I can only say that I regard that as 
criminal, ignorant and potentially murderous folly.

"We do hear talk from some quarters of action against Syria and Iran. I 
can't understand what planet such persons are living on, when you see 
the conditions that are already there."

Dr Williams, who has sometimes been criticised for not giving clear 
leadership within the Anglican communion, has generally been more 
outspoken on the war, but never as critical as this. He will feel 
himself on stronger ground on an issue where the vast majority of 
English bishops and other religious leaders would share his view.

Among Church of England bishops, only the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, the 
Bishop of Rochester, has spoken in support of the military action.

The archbishop, speaking on BBC Radio 4's World Tonight programme, also 
spoke of the targeted ethnic cleansing of members of the longstanding 
Iraqi Christian community, some of whom he met in refugee camps in
Syria.

Guardian Unlimited ) Guardian News and Media Limited 200


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