George W. Vader? 'Star Wars' sparks US political storm

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2005

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — A powerful leader moves to suspend civil liberties to defend the republic during a time of war. The subject of political debate in Washington? No, it's the new "Star Wars" movie.

"Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith" has barely hit screens, but political activists are already drawing heated comparisons between Darth Vader's battle in a galaxy far, far away and President George W. Bush's war on terror.

George Lucas's sixth and final offering in the classic film series is stirring up a hornet's nest of controversy in the United States, whether or not the director intended to bring modern politics into his sci-fi allegory.

"If you're not with me, you're my enemy," Anakin Skywalker, who goes to the "dark side" as the evil Lord Darth...