LARRY MULLEN Jr. Questions Bono's Political Friends

     MUSIC NEWS - LARRY MULLEN Jr., drummer for Irish supergroup U2 has recently spoken out on Bono and his political associates.  He blasted the singer for "buddying" with certain world leaders.  Mullen spoke frankly about former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and outgoing US president George W. Bush, calling them "war criminals".   Mullen's said that it makes him "cringe" when he sees his band's singer, Bono associating with the two world leaders.  In an interview with British music magazine Q, Mullen is quoted : "Tony Blair is a war criminal and I think he should be tried as a war criminal. Then I see Bono and him as pals and I'm going, 'I don't like that'.  "Do I think George Bush is a war criminal? Probably - but the difference between him and Tony Blair is that Blair is intelligent. So he has no excuse for what he did."   Although Mullen does admit that Bono is "prepared to use his weight as a celebrity, at great cost to himself and his family, to help other people", he added: "But as an outsider looking in, I cringe."  Bono is involved in numerous world charities and causes, most recently, Project (Red).  Look for Larry and Bono working together on the March 2, 2009 new release, No Line On the Horizon.