TIM ROBBINS - ROBBINS WELCOMES WAR CONTROVERSY

Liberal actor TIM ROBBINS was delighted of the controversy surrounding his anti-war comments earlier this year (03) - because it prompted debate about the issue in his native America.

The star was shocked to find a 15th anniversary tribute to BULL DURHAM - the baseball film he co-starred in with partner SUSAN SARANDON - was shelved after he spoke out against US-led military action in Iraq, as he was accused of putting American troops in danger with his comments.

However, Robbins feels entirely justified in his comments, and welcomed the debate that followed as he believes dialogue is the key to American democracy.

He says, "It was incredible what happened. It turned into this huge gift because it would spin a huge debate about dissent and the right to free speech.

"But where was this debate happening? In the sports pages. Suddenly sports writers across the country found themselves writing passionately about the First Amendment.

"It's a war that by our own President's admission will last a long time. When I spoke at some rallies against the war they started criticising me, us, for being unpatriotic because we're at war. I thought, OK, when do we get to speak?

"This war's going to go on for ten years. Is that just the Bill of Rights suspended for ten years?"