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ANTHRAX Guitarist Says There Is Nothing Wrong With Criticizing The War In Iraq

June 4, 2003

ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian believes that everyone should be allowed an opportunity to state their political views, even if they happen to be critical of the government's foreign policy in a time of war.

"I find it extremely disturbing that people in the U.S. are being criticized for criticizing the government and the president," Ian writes in his regular online column at ANTHRAX's official web site. "There's nothing wrong with being patriotic. There is everything wrong with being an ignorant ass. A lot of people can't separate the two. I support the men and women that are willing to risk their lives for America. I don't support the war pigs that put them at risk. It's my right as an American to speak my mind about my president and government. That's what a free society is about. That's what we as Americans have fought for since our inception. When these so-called 'patriots' come down on the DIXIE CHICKS, or Serj Tankian, or Sean Penn, or anyone that speaks their mind, they're showing how ignorant they are.

"I'm going to leave you with a quote from a man that can express it much more eloquently than I could: 'To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.' — Theodore Roosevelt"

ANTHRAX will kick off a European tour on June 5 with an appearance at Summer Rocks Festival in Budapest, Hungary. Support at the group's German headlining dates will come from PRONG.

ANTHRAX's latest CD, "We've Come For You All", available in the U.S. since May 6 through Sanctuary Records, shifted 9,819 copies in the U.S. during its first week of release to debut at No. 122 on The Billboard 200 chart.

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