McCartney airs concerns over war in Iraq

Beatles legend Paul McCartney thinks it is too early to say whether the war in Iraq was right or not.

McCartney said in a radio interview today that only “time will tell” whether it was right to invade the country to topple Saddam’s regime and hunt for weapons of mass destruction.

He also voiced his concerns about the way in which war has been conducted in Iraq.

Describing himself as a “pacifist” he told Radio 5 Live’s Nicky Campbell: “I felt that the UN all agreed that Saddam should be made to disarm. They didn’t agree on how to do it.”

Speaking about cluster bombs he added: “It would be great to outlaw these cowardly weapons.

“What happens after the war finishes is that it’s the civilians – mainly women and children – who get blown up.

“A lot of people agree that there are other ways to do it.

“I don’t want anyone to fight anyone.”

The interview broadcast today coincides with the release of War Child’s Hope album featuring tracks by McCartney, David Bowie and Cat Stevens – his first pop song for more than 25 years – released to raise money for children in Iraq.

McCartney also discussed the bizarre life of Michael Jackson and his children.

“I hope that his heart’s in the right place, but he’s a very unusual guy,” he said.

“I feel sorry for the kids being brought up under those veils whereas I was keen to send my kids to ordinary school and just throw them into the lion’s den.”

In another interview McCartney revealed that Robbie Williams stole his thunder with his collection of swing classics.

The former Beatle has said he was planning to record a selection of Rat Pack tunes, but had to abandon the idea when Williams did the same with chart-topper Swing When You’re Winning.

McCartney – currently playing a four-night stint at London’s Earls Court - dropped his plan for fear of being branded a copycat.

In the interview with the Real Radio network, he told presenter Terry Underhill of his abandoned plan.

“I love old standard songs. So that’s a long-standing ambition of mine.

“I must say that I was shaping up to do it but then Robbie Williams went and did one and I thought, ’Well, if I do it now it’s going to look like ‘oh he’s just copying Robbie’.”

He said the situation was compounded with Rod Stewart’s It Had To Be You album of classic songs.

“Every time that happens it puts the kibosh on it for me,” said McCartney.

“But I do love those songs and for me they remind me of my parents’ generation, New Year’s parties. All that music of that era is special to me. One day I’d like to do some of that.”