The Wonderful World of Bono — Middle East

Only here in the Middle East is there any organised resistance to the imperialist forces of globalisation. And while no-one would applaud Saddam Hussein's slightly less than close adherence to human rights charters, I must admit that the man has been more than willing to listen to my own particular vision for the region.

The facts are simple. Everybody in the Middle East must stop fighting, and they must stop fighting right now. Ariel Sharon of Israel persists in his belligerent ways, despite no less than six visits from myself insisting that he and the Palestinians shake hands and make up.

Neither has Yasser Arafat heeded my warning that a command bunker needs a back door as well as a front. Even a threat by tireless fellow-campaigner Sting to record a moving ballad roundly condemning the crisis has failed to provoke action from either side.

This conflict has a terrible human cost, and trade embargoes against Iraq simply deprive the needy of essential goods — food, fuel and U2 greatest hits boxed sets. End this madness now, I emplore you.

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