Popcorn Politics

Proving that premieres, parties and the size of their personal trailers aren't the only concerns wafting around their A-list craniums, more than 100 heavy-weight Hollywood stars have come over all political and given their multi-million names to a declaration opposing a pre-emptive strike against Iraq. And it wasn't just the normal suspects either. Lefties such as Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon predictably popped up proving that no tinsel-town protest is complete without their presence, while small screen Pres Martin Sheen was typically not backward in putting his views forward about his real-life counterpart. "We are trying to arouse a true patriotism," he told reporters yesterday before letting us in on why President Bush feels compelled to go to war. "I think he would like to hand his father Saddam Hussein's head," he said bluntly. But previously non-political celebs such as Matt Damon, Gillian Anderson, David Duchovny, Samuel L Jackson, Kim Basinger and the whole of REM also gave their stamp of approval on the letter criticising the lack of any real debate about war in Iraq. Launching their group, Artists United to Win Without War, the open letter commented, "The war talk in Washington is alarming and unnecessary," and insists such criticism is not treasonous. "We are patriotic Americans, who share the belief that Saddam Hussein cannot be allowed to possess weapons of mass destruction," the letter declares, but states that "a pre-emptive military invasion of Iraq will harm American national interests." Samuel L v Dubya. We can hardly wait.