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| Archbishop attacks 'violent' US | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams has launched a stinging attack on US policy, comparing it unfavourably with the British Empire. | Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams has launched a stinging attack on US policy, comparing it unfavourably with the British Empire. |
| In a magazine interview, he said the British Empire had "rightly or wrongly" poured energy and resources into administering lands it had taken over. | |
| But he told Muslim lifestyle glossy Emel the US had assumed all Iraq needed was a "quick burst of violent action". | |
| It thought it could then leave others to "put it back together", he said. | It thought it could then leave others to "put it back together", he said. |
| Moral high ground | Moral high ground |
| Dr Williams said the US, as the only "global hegemonic power", was trying to accumulate influence and control, rather than territory. But he said: "That is not working," describing the result as "the worst of all worlds". | Dr Williams said the US, as the only "global hegemonic power", was trying to accumulate influence and control, rather than territory. But he said: "That is not working," describing the result as "the worst of all worlds". |
| He told the magazine the US had lost the moral high ground since the 11 September attacks and needed to take steps including "generous aid" to "the societies that have been ravaged", a "check on the economic exploitation of defeated territories" and a "demilitarisation" of its presence in them in order to recover. | He told the magazine the US had lost the moral high ground since the 11 September attacks and needed to take steps including "generous aid" to "the societies that have been ravaged", a "check on the economic exploitation of defeated territories" and a "demilitarisation" of its presence in them in order to recover. |
| There is something about Western modernity which really does eat away at the soul Dr Rowan Williams | There is something about Western modernity which really does eat away at the soul Dr Rowan Williams |
| Of Britain's role in Iraq, Dr Williams - a long-term critic of the conflict - says: "A lot of the pressure around the war in Iraq was, 'We've got to do something! Then we'll feel better.' That's very dangerous." | Of Britain's role in Iraq, Dr Williams - a long-term critic of the conflict - says: "A lot of the pressure around the war in Iraq was, 'We've got to do something! Then we'll feel better.' That's very dangerous." |
| He describes violence as "a quick discharge of frustration", saying "It serves you. It does not serve the situation. | He describes violence as "a quick discharge of frustration", saying "It serves you. It does not serve the situation. |
| "Whenever people turn to violence what they do is temporarily release themselves from some kind of problem but they help no-one else." | "Whenever people turn to violence what they do is temporarily release themselves from some kind of problem but they help no-one else." |
| Dr Williams raises questions about the modern Western definition of humanity, saying: "There is something about Western modernity which really does eat away at the soul." | Dr Williams raises questions about the modern Western definition of humanity, saying: "There is something about Western modernity which really does eat away at the soul." |
| He warns the fast pace of modern life can "get in the way of the soul". | He warns the fast pace of modern life can "get in the way of the soul". |
| He told the magazine: "The worst message we can give off is compulsive anxiety, 'I've got to fix everything.'" | He told the magazine: "The worst message we can give off is compulsive anxiety, 'I've got to fix everything.'" |