US movie stars lash out at Bush

BERLIN - New York film director Spike Lee led a chorus of criticism against George W. Bush at the Berlin Film Festival yesterday, telling the United States President he had no moral authority to launch a war against Iraq.

Going out of his way to praise the French and German governments for their outspoken resistance to the US Government's war moves, Lee said it was an outrage that Bush was ignoring world opinion in his rush to attack Iraq.

"The German and French governments should be commended," Lee said at a news conference after his film 25th Hour, about New York after the September 11 attacks, made its international premiere.

"Too many people are being bowled over by Bush and Tony Blair in Britain. It's ludicrous to expect the whole world to follow what they want. America doesn't have the moral right to tell other people what to do.

"To say the whole world has to fall into line is you-know-what. I hope more people will rise up."

Lee, famed for his thought-provoking films about New York City, was joined by the cast of 25th Hour in denouncing Bush.

The anti-war comments drew thunderous applause from many of the 300 journalists and followed similar remarks from other US celebrities in Berlin for the annual film festival.

Dustin Hoffman and Martin Scorsese added their voices to a peace movement sweeping Europe, telling audiences in Germany violence would not solve the world's problems and that they wanted to speak out against Bush, without criticising America.

"I hope the world community will continue to voice itself and apply pressure on the US Government," said Edward Norton, who stars in Lee's film.

"American citizens have to do it, too.

"Almost everyone in Germany and France is in sync with their governments. I almost forgot what it's like to be proud of my Government."

Actress Rosario Dawson said she was frightened by the patriotic mood sweeping the US.

"Any dissenting opinion is considered unpatriotic," she said. "It makes me upset. I'm embarrassed. It's my hope that Americans won't jump on anyone having a dissenting opinion."

Canadian actor Barry Pepper, who is also in Lee's film, said: "We're going to send our boys and girls overseas to kill - and that's pretty sad."

Hoffman also had some sharp words for Bush at a black-tie Berlinale charity dinner.

"I'm not anti-American but I am against the current Administration's policy," he said to cheers. Politicians, he said, were manipulating public opinion through the media.

"If there is no direct threat, why are we invading?" he said.

Scorsese, a director known for violent gangster films such as Goodfellas and whose latest, Gangs of New York, is competing in Berlin for a Golden Bear award, hoped war could be averted.

"It seems to me that any sensible person must see that violence does not change the world and if it does, then only temporarily," he said. "There must be people who remember World War II and the Holocaust who can help us get out of this rut."

A long list of Hollywood stars, including Martin Sheen, Sean Penn and Robert Redford, have spoken out against a new Gulf War.

More than 100 celebrities have signed an open letter urging Bush to give peace a chance.

- REUTERS

Herald feature: Iraq