Shoot The Dog

"The song and video in question, "Shoot The Dog", is definitely not an attempt to express anti-American sentiment, nor an attempt to condone the actions of Al-Qaida. I have lived with an American citizen for the past six years, and have had a home there for the past 10. And I would never knowingly disrespect the feelings of a nation, which has suffered so much loss, so recently, for any reason. The debate which I hope to encourage by lampooning the relationship between our two leaders (and I think it is fair to say that lampooning is principally an American invention, born out of a desire for true democracy), is one that I think would protect all of us, but it would seem that neither the British nor American governments are keen to have us raise our voices, or ask a few simple, terrifying questions:
Saddam Hussein is without question now capable of changing the face of the planet. The level of destruction possible if this madman is cornered is too awful to put into words. So what should we do? Do we hope that time and his age will remove him from us all (don't forget, he is in his sixties, and God may smile on us in that respect), or do we bomb Iraq and hope to get rid of his regime right now? And, most frightening of all, if we do go looking for him, and succeed, isn't it possible that he will behave as he always has, like the bad guy in some tacky movie, sat in a room with nothing to lose and a few terrifying red buttons at his fingertips. Isn't that almost inevitable?
I do not believe this is melodrama. I believe this is the most important decision that our respective Governments have ever had to make on our behalf's. I cannot speak for America, I would not presume to, but there is no doubt that here in the UK, we are not being asked what we think. Like many of you over there in the States, we are just praying that Tony and Dubya know more than we do, because prayer is all that appears to be allowed.
"Shoot the Dog" is simply my attempt to contribute to the public debate that I feel should be taking place regarding Iraq and Saddam Hussein. I have tried to convey my message with humor, because the public is rightfully scared of these issues, and humor has often been a useful aide to political debate. And believe me, however irreverent I may be of Mr. Blair and Mr. Bush, my intentions are genuinely to do something, however small, to protect all of us, the people I love, and the people you love, from a disaster that we have the power to avoid. The record was never intended for American release, for the precise reason that I felt it could be misread in this very way, and it makes me truly sad that this press statement has been necessary. Once again, no offense to Americans was intended, but politicians are humans, not Gods, and God knows, there has never been a more important time to remember that than now.
Sincerely, George Michael"