Labour launches anti-Bush campaign

Labour today launched the latest anti-Bush campaign, calling on Irish people to make it clear they did not support the Iraq war.

The Don’t Count Us In campaign aims to make it clear to George Bush when he visits Ireland later this month Labour does not support the continued occupation of Iraq.

Party leader Pat Rabbitte joined European election candidates Peter Cassells, Ivana Bacik and Proinsias De Rossa on Dublin’s O’Connell Street to promote the initiative.

He said: “Mr Bush’s foreign policy has made the world a less safe place. His enterprise in Iraq has been disastrous for everyone concerned, including motorists queuing up in the forecourts of petrol stations.

“The consequences are very sad to see on our television screens. We can’t allow world governance to be dictated by one government super-power.”

The party is calling on people to turn out on the streets during the US president’s visit and make their feelings known.

“We want to encourage people to protest peacefully and democratically against the Bush administration’s policies,” Mr Rabbitte said.

“We were told it was about weapons of mass destruction. There has been no evidence of any weapons of mass destruction but Mr Bush was determined to go into Iraq.”