Civil War in the Anti-War Movement

The anti-war movement in America is on the brink of self-destruction. There are multiple contributing factors to the movement's erosion. Extremists, incompatible ideologies, lack of participation from the silent majority, timid politicians from all parties, fringe/special interest groups, and an overall lack of solidarity has all but put the final nail in the coffin.

It has been impossible to organize legitimate protests against the Iraq war without commingling other agendas. I have been to many marches against the war. In every situation radical organizations have blended into the demos to promote their views of the world. In most cases those views are contrary to those of most Americans. For example, advocates for freeing Mumia Abu-Jamal, anti-Israel organizations, worshipers of Che Guevara, and communist/socialist groups have poisoned the message of "bring the troops home" and created an image of chaos and anarchy that sends the average American off screaming into the night. These Americans, the silent majority, under normal circumstances would attend anti-war protests and contribute to the movement if it were not for the circus act.

Most politicians have provided nothing but lip service over the last five years while the blood continues to flow in Iraq. Republicans will stand by their party orthodoxy of "stay the course" and "fight them in Baghdad, not Boston." Each time they voted for war funding they did so because they actually believed it was right. They backed up their votes with conviction no matter how wrong they were. Democrats have shouted their opposition to the Iraq war, but at every moment of truth when they had the chance to vote against war funding, many of them caved in and voted with their Republican counterparts to continue the war. So what side of the aisle is worse?

The well-financed fringe groups have proven to be counter-productive to ending the Iraq war. I'm speaking of organizations (aligned with the Democratic Party) that put mouthpieces on MSNBC and CNN to regurgitate the talking points of the Democratic leadership and to attack their Republican opposition - henchman and hacks. Most Americans understand that these individuals will sell their souls for an invitation to a political cocktail party. Even worse, the very Democrats who they advocate for consistently voted in lockstep with the Republicans to prolong the war -- total hypocrites. So who's version of the war are you buying, the Democrats or the Republicans? Whichever side you choose, don't forget you're still putting stock into the war.

Time was never on our side. It isn't the Vietnam era when Americans were forced to care because of the reality of the military draft. We can freely conduct our daily business and not even have think about the lives and billions being spent in Iraq -- how selfish. We are not mandated to serve in the military nor are we encouraged to serve. A promo initiated by our Commander in Chief George W. Bush. According to him, America is fighting a global war on terror (primarily in Iraq) while he tells Americans to "go shopping."

Hindsight is always 20/20. Through unity and setting aside unrelated agendas we could have implemented strong political will that could have forced Washington to take the anti-war vote seriously enough to achieve the ultimate goal -- an end to the war in Iraq. Instead, an umbrella movement formed consisting of groups with multiple and competing absolutist agendas. A civil war within the movement was inevitable and there seems to be no middle ground. A perception has been created that you're either an enabler for those who have no real plan to end the war (the two main political parties and the main stream fringe groups) or you're a radical taking votes from Obama by voting for third party candidates, thus handing the election to McCain and perpetuating the war -- a beautiful mess.

Comments

[Peacebuilders-Unite]

While the antiwar movement was extremely relevant in trying to avert a disastrous war in Iraq, it has failed to be meaningful or consistent in responding to the humanitarian consequences. Today, 4.8 million Iraqis are displaced, and millions more are vulnerable and in need of emergency humanitarian assistance (see http://www.IraqActionDays.org)
Instead of adapting the changing circumstances, many in the movement (or at least its most visible spokespersons) have stuck to a simplistic, increasingly irrelevant message. The goal ceased to be ending the war, but rather bringing troops home regardless of the consequences (for a preview, rewind to 2006/07 when U.S. forces largely withdrew from street patrols and ceded ground to various armed gangs).
Antiwar Democrats and prowar Republicans have also encouraged the mainstream media's framing of the debate as a question of "out now" vs. "stay the course". Both positions are polarizing roads to nowhere. And while prowar Republicans (esp. Bush) are blind to U.S. failings in Iraq, most antiwar Democrats are blind to recent progress. There has been a 70-80% drop in violence, and Iraqis are preparing for next year's provincial and national elections where Iraqis (esp. Sunnis) are expected to turnout in force. Turning a blind eye to either what's working or not working with U.S. policy makes thoughtful citizens like me suspicious of the intentions of both the "pro-war" and "anti-war" movements.

[HeevenSteven]

I think many of those "radicals" who show up at the protests are actually pro-war agent provocateurs, there to discredit the movement.

[John Bruhns - Huffpost Blogger]

HeevenSteven,

I can't say that I entirely disagree. There have probably been a number of cases in which you describe.

V/R
John

[LizM]

John,

...a beautiful mess, indeed...and one that can be very easily cleaned up! In fact, I'd be willing to bet the farm - unless it's in Iowa - that things will be looking dramatically better after October 2nd...if you know what I mean and I know that you do!

Despite the utterly ridiculous claims by McCain/Palin that "victory" in Iraq is just around the corner, I am beginning to get that sinking feeling in my stomach about where things may be headed there. I hope the anti-war folks - all of them - soon realize that the best hope for ending the civil war in Iraq and for withdrawing US troops without leaving a failed state in their wake is to work as hard as they can - harder than they ever have for anything - to ensure an Obama/Biden victory in November.

[John Bruhns - Huffpost Blogger]

LizM,

Good to hear from you again. I too hope that all the "anti-war folks" who are considering alternatives to Obama/Biden realize the disastrous impact it will have on our nation and Iraq if we elect John McCain by voting for spoilers.

I'm 100% with you : Obama/Biden 08 !!

V/R
John

[deminmo]

The real problem is you have people who hold the banner of
protesting the Iraq war, in reality they just want 15 minutes of
fame, and a reason for busting up store fronts. That makes
real protesters look bad. That's why people are reluctant to
join the effort.

[John Bruhns - Huffpost Blogger]

deminmo,

I agree totally. Hence my statement:

"These Americans, the silent majority, under normal circumstances would attend anti-war protests and contribute to the movement if it were not for the circus act."

V/R
John

[Sundialsvc4]

An elegantly simple strategy, don't you think, John?

We start by paying (literally) billions of dollars for campaign advertisements. Media companies know where and how their bread is buttered, don't they?

Next, we make sure to inject all kinds of "inflammatory, polarizing, and vacuous" interference into any sort of protest that might crop up, and instruct the media to glom on to those titillating-bits. They are only too happy to do so.

We keep absolutely every scrap of negative press out of the press: nobody dies, no coffins come home, no one loses. Absolutely no mysterious oily substances ever bubble to the surface of this oddly-calm lake.

"Ike" Eisenhower was absolutely right when he tried to warn us that this was a threat unlike any that this Republic had ever before experienced.

[John Bruhns - Huffpost Blogger]

Sundialsvc4,

Interesting observation. Ike was right, no question about that.

V/R
John

[forsmokey]

I saw this coming with my first time participation in last September's anti-war march in Washington D.C. The anti-war breakdown or breakup is a snapshot of what's going on politically in the country.

We have the ending of an eight year administration that has driven the country into the ground economically, killed hundreds of thousands of people including it's own citizens, lied and spied on us and others, tortured, raised fear to a new level but hasn't done what is necessary to fully protect us, ignored other immediate crises such as the environment and poverty and yet we're ready to follow the lead of our elected officials in office by closing our eyes and ears, sticking our heads in the sand and possibly re-electing the very same group of politicians that caused this whole meltdown.

It may be just enough to push the people of this country over the edge towards revolution and true civil war. Who am I kidding. We've evolved into a do nothing, stand for nothing but give me everything society so far removed from the men and women of the American and French Revolution and the U.S. Civil War. A society so involved in their own day to day existence, so afraid or with so few ready to stand up and make a difference. The United States and it's true caring citizens have made themselves irrelevant on the world stage. All that's left to represent us is the fringe.

[LizM]

I must say, with sadness, that that was very well said.

[John Bruhns - Huffpost Blogger]

forsmokey & LizM,

Please give this a glance -- it touches on your point:

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/opinion/20080721_IRAQ__THE_REAL_COST_OF_STAYING_THE_COURSE.html

V/R
John

[LizM]

I read your article back in July - I'm a fan, don'tcha know! :) So, what d'ya think...will Pennsylvania do the right thing in November?

[researcher]

well written and well thought out

I will be one of those voting for a third party ie nader

a waring nation deserves a waring president

a religious nation deserves a religious vp

I had so much respect in the sixties for the young protesting students now I realize it was all about the draft not the war.

we deserve our leaders and our wars

not sure the nations we invade and try to occupy deserve our wars for profits

only total economic decline will cause americans to challenge their existing imperialist paradigms

until then nothing much will change

[jhNY]

Since the occupation in Iraq is an ongoing War Crime, it's not unreasonable to expect some (too few) citizens will get all fringe-y and radical about ending it, as unlike their representatives in Congress, they find it hard to live with themselves while staring at all that blood on their own hands. We live in a representative democracy. The war belongs to the people. All the people, even those of us opposed to it, because we're American citizens and our country belongs to us, and we are responsible. The fact that by any and all means nobody in the country has done enough to stop the War Crime is a terrible stain on the soul of the American people, and it will never wash off.

[John Bruhns - Huffpost Blogger]

jhNY,

Many people have tried to end this war, many.

www.findingourvoices.com

V/R
John

[John Bruhns - Huffpost Blogger]

jhNY,

This documentary may change your mind -- slightly.

http://www.findingourvoices.com

V/R
John

[castrochavez08]

A very timely and relevant article.

They say that all politicians have to learn to compromise, and when it comes to activism it may be true as well. Respect for the common good and for other points of view help out.

But any examination of this topic must include the "agent provocateur" discussion.
Inside spies playing for the other team is a centuries old idea. In the 1960's there were black panther meetings that had more undercover FBI posing as panthers than actual panthers in attendance.
New York city police and peace groups, Canadian mounties posing as protesters, the NRA infiltrating anti gun groups being just a few recent examples. Google the topic.
The 911 truth movement (say what you will about the topic, the people are sincere) has had many infiltrators who do a great job of looking stupid in order to discredit the whole movement and kill any debate.

Peace movements are up against a dirty CIA FBI cabal of experienced agents who know how to mess things up. A compliant willing media is always willing to rush in and show any gaffe by protesters/peace groups to discredit them.
This is an uphill battle, and I'm pretty sure the people are losing.