"We can't beat anyone anymore," Clooney

WASHINGTON, February 24 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) –Along with anti-war demonstrations that have been drawing thousands of people all over the world to rally against an upcoming U.S. aggression against Iraq, the Hollywood celebrities used their media power to show their anti-war stand.

On a growing list of Hollywood celebrities to speak out against war that includes Sean Penn, Ed Harris, Dustin Hoffman, Madonna and director Spike Lee, comes actor George Clooney to make a strong case against the Bush administration’s “war mongering”, this time on a German screen.

"America's policies frustrate me,…I think a war against Iraq is as unavoidable as it senseless. I think it's coming. But I also think the real danger is going to be what happens after it” Clooney said in a in the ARD television program "Beckmann" On Sunday, February 23, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

Stepping up his criticism of U.S President George W. Bush administration as war monger, Clooney said he feared a war against the Arab country would eventually lead to a more vicious cycle of violence.

"You can't beat your enemy anymore through wars; instead you create an entire generation of people revenge-seeking," Clooney added.

The 41-year-old actor slammed U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld for thinking a war against Iraq would be an easy win for the United States.

"I believe he thinks this is a war that can be won, but there is no such thing anymore," said Clooney, who starred in a film about the 1991 Gulf War "Three Kings" that took a dark look at the war to drive Iraq out of Kuwait.

"We can't beat anyone anymore," said Clooney.

Majority of Americans Never Elected Bush: Moore

"The majority of us Americans never elected George W. Bush," Moore

The Oscar-winning Michael Moore turned France’s Cesars movie awards ceremony into a platform for declaring his anti-war stance and delivering a scathing attack on the U.S. President Georges W. Bush administration’s inexorable warmongering over Iraq.  

"One of the best definitions of an ally, of a friend, is that your friend is the one who can tell you when you're wrong," Moore said on Saturday, February 22, in his speech marking his controversial documentary "Bowling for Columbine" winning the best foreign film category in the French version of Oscars.

The film looks at the culture of guns and violence in America.

"So thank you for showing us the way, for standing up and for something very important... I want to let you know that there are tens of millions of Americans who feel the same way."

France's President Jacques Chirac is one of the most vocal opponents to U.S. and British build-up for war against Iraq.

Polls also indicate a large majority of the French population oppose any U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

In his speech, Moore went on to lash out at U.S. President George W. Bush.

"The majority of us Americans never elected George W. Bush," he said.

"We've been surviving a coup now for the past couple of years and because of that we don't support coups instigated by us in other countries," the director said, admitting "I will be crucified in the press in America when I got home."

Moore has long been a bete noir to the White House because of his controversial films and biting books targeting contemporary social problems.

"Bowling for Columbine" - the first documentary to win the prestigious French award, takes a sometimes humorous, often horrifying look at America's love affair with guns.

Madonna Joins Up

The famous star Madonna also joined the debate by her anti-war themed music video for the title track to her upcoming album “American Life”.

Madonna has wrapped shooting on her "American Life" video, and judging by some of the industry insiders who were at the shoot, the clip is sure to bring controversy to the singer. "American Life" is the first single to be released from the singer's forthcoming album, due out in April 2003.

The video features several attention-grabbing moments, including one in which Madonna lobs a hand grenade during a runway show of couture army fatigues.

The fashion show then develops into a mad frenzy, which, according to her record label, illustrates the "catastrophic repercussions and horrors of war."

However, Madonna said it is not meant to be anti-American.

"I feel lucky to be an American citizen for many reasons, one of which is the right to express myself freely, especially in my work," she said in a statement.

"I understand that there have been reports about my upcoming video 'American Life' in the media--much of which is inaccurate," Madonna noted.

"I am not Anti-[George] Bush. I am not pro-Iraq. I am pro-peace."

Madonna went on to say that the song and accompanying video is not so much about war as it is about greed and materialism.

"I have written a song and created a video which expresses my feelings about our culture and values and the illusions of what many people believe is the American dream, the perfect life," she proclaimed.

"As an artist, I hope this provokes thought and dialogue. I don't expect everyone to agree with my point of view. I am grateful to have the freedom to express these feelings, and that's how I honor my country."

But according to reports published by Internet gossiper Matt Drudge, "American Life" is a "sweeping political commentary on the modern American dream, and how nothing is what it seems." Not only is Madonna shown wearing commando gear and throwing grenades, the video also contains images of bloody babies and limbless men and women. The clip is meant to show the atrocities of a possible U.S. war with Iraq.

German platforms

"I am not Anti-[George] Bush. I am not pro-Iraq. I am pro-peace," Madonna

The Hollywood celebrities in Berlin Film Festival also took up the chance to slam the Bush administration's drive to war against Iraq last week.

"In This World," Michael Winterbotton's faux docu-drama about refugees from Afghanistan journeying to Europe, was awarded the Golden Bear in the festival, an occasion seen by the U.S. magazine Variety reporter as politically motivated.

The selection of the picture was seen as a pointed anti-war statement from the seven-member jury led by Canadian director Atom Egoyan," read the magazine.

Germany is a staunch opponent to Bush's plan to wage a war against Iraq, leading to a highly-touted rift with Washington and a possible strain of relations.

The closing awards ceremony also took place against the backdrop of a massive anti-war demonstration in the Germany capitals.

Stars and filmmakers including Clooney, Dustin Hoffman, Spike Lee, Edward Norton and Oliver Stone used the Berlinale as a platform to voice their grievances against a U.S. military buildup.

Artists United

Joining the anti-war message to the Bush administration, the celebrities grouped in Artists United to Win Without War.

The group, launched in December 2002 with a simple statement calling on Bush to give the UN weapons inspectors more time to do their mission in Iraq and not to rush to war, is part of antiwar coalition of some 30 groups that includes Greenpeace, the National Council of Churches and Oxfam America.

It counts support of several Hollywood's elite, including Kim Basinger, Robin Williams, Gillian Anderson, Susan Sarandon, Matt Damon, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kirsten Dunst.

Among the Hollywood stars whose anti-war views made world headlines are Woody Harrelson, Richard Gere, Shean Penn (who visited Baghdad recently) and Sheryl Crow who was castigated for wearing a "War is not the answer" T-Shirt at an awards show.

Martin Sheen also used his TV role as a fictional U.S. president by fronting anti-war television spot.

But their anti-war position was met with fierce opposition as “unpatriotic”.

"Is it wise to take advice from people who generally don't begin to grow up till their 40s or early 50s" wrote a columnist in Utah's Desert News.

A CNN talk show this week called "Star Wars" carried the tag "What does Hollywood know about politics".

"One the one hand, celebrities don't know anything more about political and social life than the rest of us. On the other hand, I've never seen any reason why they shouldn't speak out. They are human beings. They are voters, they have feelings, " said Time magazine movie reviewer Richard Schickel.

No Blood for Oil

Another Star with world-wide fame, Pakistan's cricket-hero-turned politician Imran Khan Imran Khan, in joint sport-art coalition meant to oppose an anticipated U.S. attack on Iraq.

"The world should take note of the deals being made to have oil through a blood-bath, there should be no bargain at cost of blood," the APP news agency quoted him telling reporters.

"Attacking Iraq will not be a sane step," Khan said, adding that the war was being planned "at the behest of Israeli lobby that wants to capture the world oil wealth by hook or crook."

Khan, who leads the Movement for Justice party, praised those countries opposing war and said "the double standards by the U.S. need to be condemned”

"The U.S. claims that Iraq is a rogue state and must be disarmed. By the same token Israel has developed and maintains weapons of mass destruction and continues to occupy Palestinian territory, refuses to implement UN Security Council resolutions and has committed massive human rights violations.

"And yet the U.S. provides it aid to the tune of 10 million dollars a day and the UN refuses to take any action to enforce its resolutions on Palestine."

Khan warned that by colluding with the U.S., the gulf between rulers and the general population would reach dangerous proportions in the Islamic world.

Iraq does not pose an imminent threat to world peace to necessitate going to war and a doctrine of pre-emptive war will lead to chaos, he warned.

He said Pakistan, as a non-permanent member of the Security Council must oppose any resolution that justifies military action against Iraq.

Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat said Thursday, February 20, that Pakistan had not ruled out supporting a UN resolution authorizing the use of force against Iraq.

Pakistan, a close U.S. ally, has been hedging its position, lobbying for a peaceful resolution of the conflict while urging Iraq to comply with disarmament demands.

As a Muslim country, Pakistan must weigh up loyalty to the Muslim world and local Islamist groups at home, as well as its dependence on Washington for financial support.