Only way to end attacks is to break away from endless cycle of tit-for-tat violence

The Irish Anti-War Movement condemns the terrorist attacks in Brussels that have left 34 people dead and many more injured and traumatised. We extend our sympathy to the victims’ relatives and solidarity to Belgians.

As with the attacks in Paris in November, and other terror attacks since that have not had the same level of media interest, we believe it is necessary to break out of the vicious cycle of war, terrorism and more war and more terrorism in which we have become locked.

Security for ordinary citizens is important but we have to analysis why young men are willing to blow themselves up in crowds of people and why the world is now such a more dangerous place than after 9/11.

The attacks are ultimately a response to the perpetual warfare waged by western powers in many middle-eastern countries. These last 14 years have seen wars on and in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Palestine and elsewhere, most instigated by western powers often with the clarion call of defeating terrorism. Yet, predictably the terrorist attacks have got worse.

The best way to stop them is to stop making wars in, and selling armaments to, the Middle East. The West needs to invest in peacemaking instead of war-mongering and promoting xenophobic bartering deals over refugees.

Jim Roche,

PRO Irish Anti-War Movement,

PO Box 9260,

Dublin 1