[Peace-discuss] The US anti-war movement is looking for ways to revive itself

[Chuck Minne]

US anti-war movement looking for second wind

Wed Feb 23,11:55 AM ET


NEW YORK (AFP) - The US anti-war movement is looking for ways to revive itself, following President George W. Bush (news - web sites)'s reelection and in the face of divided public opinion, to see US troops out of Iraq (news - web sites). 

AFP/Getty Images/File Photo 

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Some 500 representatives of pacifist organizations, former combatants, soldiers' families, as well as actor and activist Danny Glover (news), met last weekend in Saint Louis, Missouri, for the first time since the start of Bush's second term, seeking a united strategy for their efforts. 

"United For Peace and Justice" the name of the coalition seeking to set its strategy in the coming months, organized the big February 2003 and August 2004 marches in New York, and said demos will be held on March 19 -- the second anniversary of the launch of the US war in Iraq. 

In Fayetteville, North Carolina, home to the Fort Bragg military base, the demos will be organized by former soldiers and relatives of military. UFPJ also aims to get people together for a May 1 gathering in Central Park, New York, permit allowing. 

"This conference is partly to strengthen the networks that exist, to solidify our coalition and also to look ahead to March 19, that weekend, the second anniversary of the war, and there is a new resolve to bring this occupation to an end," said Bill Dobbs, coalition spokesman. 

"The peace movement in this country expanded dramatically in the last two years," he continues. 

A "sign of continued vitality" is that "so many hundreds of people have come to St Louis, in the heartland this weekend." 

And while the group will limit its protests to the Iraq situation, "certainly we would respond if there was an invasion of Iran," Dobbs adds. 

"But in the near period, people certainly want to focus on Bush's vulnerabilities and do everything possible to end the occupation." 

Most Americans believe that US troops should now remain in Iraq and finish their work, though many are critical of the war itself. According to a February 8-9 poll by FoxNews, 46 percent believe getting involved in the war was a good idea, compared to 49 percent who did not. 

The success of the January 30 election served only to make that trend more acute. 

"People came away somewhat more optimistic about the prospects for democracy" in the wake of the vote, said Scott Keeter, research director at the Pew Institute. 

"We also don't see a significant number of people at this time who believe the US should withdraw from Iraq. 

"Given that the polls are still showing that a majority of the public -- although only small majorities -- says we should stay there until a stable government is established, there really isn't a lot of room for a significant anti-war movement," he says. 

But because people do not generally at present view the war as "both a mistake and unwinnable", "the potential size of the movement is limited at present," Keeter said. 

Keeter does not see a resemblance with the Vietnam war. 

"The number of American casualties (in Vietnam) really dwarfed the number of American casualties we are experiencing now," 
 


The anti-war movement reserves its arguments to the unpredictable human and financial cost of the Iraqi war, recruiting problems, and also counts on some weighty spokesmen and women. 
"Gold Star Families for Peace" formed recently, comprising 50 families of some 1,450 affected by the loss of a loved one in Iraq, to weigh in on the debate. 
"Our challenge is always to try bring more people working against the occupation," said Dobbs. 
"One of the thrilling things about being in Saint-Louis is helping to energize the groups right here and also in the whole region, and there are a lot of young people here who give us a lot of hope that there is somebody to pass the torch to." 


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