Right Voices

Harrison Ford blasts US Iraq policy

At a safe distance from his homeland, veteran Hollywood actor Harrison Ford launched a broadside at US policy on Iraq, his country’s gun laws – and the film industry for producing “video games” for teenagers.

“I’m very disturbed about the direction American foreign policy is going,” said Ford, with US post-war casualties having exceeded those during the actual conflict.

“I think something needs to be done to help alleviate the conditions which have created a disenfranchised and angry faction in the Middle East.

“I don’t think military intervention is the correct solution. I regret what we as a country have done so far,” said Chicago-born Ford, 62.

The veteran star is in Madrid to promote his latest release Hollywood Homicide, a story of two moonlighting Los Angeles policemen, and receive a commemorative pin from Spanish soccer club Atletico Madrid, city rivals of Real, the club having tied up a sponsorship agreement with Colombia films.

What is it with celebrities going abroad and then trashing their homeland’s policies? Is it the “Euro” thing for Americans to do? Not that I have anything against anyone having an opinion that differs from my own, however – blanket statements about what is wrong with the USA without backing it up with ideas on what they think would make it ‘right’ – makes me wonder if some folks aren’t just bashing for the sake of bashing?

If military intervention isn’t the correct solution, Harrison – then what is?

More resolutions, sanctions and restrictions?
UN Peacekeepers?
Christian Missionaries?
Leave them alone to work it out amongst themselves?
Ignore it – it’ll go away?
All of the above?

What is a good answer, Harrison? What would you do if you were a policy-maker? Inquiring minds . . . . and all that.