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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhat happened to the antiwar left?
On the eve of American military intervention in Syria, the once-robust antiwar movement has stayed curiously silent.
Activists who turned out thousands of protesters during the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq say theyve been unable to effectively organize or raise money since the end of the Bush years, and that newer causes like drones have seized the space on the left once occupied by opposition to conventional warfare. And some acknowledge that the energy has leaked out of the movement because a Democrat is now in office. Though some groups have organized online petitions and some real-life protests, the antiwar crowd that was on fire before the war in Iraq has made hardly a dent in the conversation surrounding Syria.
Well, the most incredibly depressing thing was that most of the groups that existed before dont exist anymore, said Medea Benjamin, the founder of Code Pink. Thats the number one problem, is that the antiwar movement is a shadow of its former self under the Bush years.
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Plus, Martin said, the energy on the left has been focused on drones and civil liberties, which doesnt rise to the level of an obviously unjust war where hundreds of thousands of people are being killed because of a belligerent president.
Though Benjamin and Martin both say the fact that Obama is a Democrat is not to blame, other antiwar stalwarts suspect the energy fizzled out when a Republican antagonist was no longer in office.
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In Raimondos view, the movement hasnt exactly disappeared as much as been reborn among young libertarians who have taken up the mantle from the previous generation of baby-boomer leftist peace activists.
It was much easier to march when it was Bush in office
gopiscrap
(23,674 posts)we have just enough to keep us quiet, but also are reminded by corporate media everyday that we are 1-4 checks away from destitution. Also we don't have independent news channels anymore. We've also sat quietly while our civil rights have been eroded.
snooper2
(30,151 posts)Capt. Obvious
(9,002 posts)Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)We used military force. Lost no American lives and removed a dictator.
I don't see any post here with the warning "This Is Going To Be Another Lybia!".
It is possible that this will be more like Lybia than Iraq. The problem here is that the rebels in Syria are not the same as in Lybia.
Even so, I think we are stuck. The same way Egypt elected the Muslim Brotherhood, and then rejected that leadership, Syria is likely to support some extremist faction in the short term.
Capt. Obvious
(9,002 posts)I seem to remember France being the dominant country in that action.
Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)and takes the lead in strikes in Syria.. that makes a difference?
Capt. Obvious
(9,002 posts)From an American perspective.
railsback
(1,881 posts)And the Brotherhood was mainly a fluke. There's no way 37% gets you control here. And then, instead of representing all Egyptians, the Brotherhood went way extreme. They'll get it right, eventually. Its not like Egypt has had their future in their own hands for decades. The same for Syria and Libya. Libya is going through power sharing pains, infighting.. but they'll work it out. Its all new to them.
Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)Once they do get it right they will be moderate governments. The extremists can't govern in any way that can last.
I think Pres. Obama handled Libya correctly and I think he handled Egypt correctly. I am fairly confident that he will handle Syria correctly. That is the upside of electing the smartest person in the room.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)a lot of people here to deny the factual basis of any pretext for military action.
I remember back in the early 2000's when people actively denied that Saddam gassed the Kurds--ON THE LEFT.
They cited Reagan/Bush flunkies as their proof.
Here.
https://www.google.com/#fp=a101793c87f39c5c&q=stephen+pelletiere+site:democraticunderground.com
This site gets infected with a bad case of the stupids when it comes to chemical weapons, for whatever reason.
Rex
(65,616 posts)I don't think any anti-war lefty is staying quiet. I know I am not.
RebelOne
(30,947 posts)I can't run through the streets crying "No war, no war."
Rex
(65,616 posts)but that doesn't seem to work lately against war.
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)The anti-war left is still here and it's getting stronger after 2 more futile wars and a number of other futile interventions by drones.
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)And we heard some first term senator from Illinois say something about "stupid wars", and we thought he was on our side.
Puzzledtraveller
(5,937 posts)Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)is so very effective that it has turned this nation from the symbol of human freedom to the world, into a senseless collection of corporate drones.
oldandhappy
(6,719 posts)on the left
anti war
one person!!
JVS
(61,935 posts)Capt. Obvious
(9,002 posts)Nothing left about them.
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid