The Socialist Party of Aotearoa National Executive recorded its most serious concern at the US President's expressed intention to escalate the on-going US/UK attacks on Iraq into a full-scale war of invasion.

Such an invasion would "open the gates of hell" by promoting a wider war in which all sides could use weapons of mass destruction including nuclear weapons. Hundreds of thousands or millions of people would be killed and injured. Economic life would be devastated and our planet's environment would be badly damaged.

By choosing war against the will of almost all other countries and peoples, the US government risks breaking up the United Nations - just when international organisation is most needed to resolve world problems peacefully and defend the security of every country.

Bill Andersen National Secretary Socialist Party of Aotearoa

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