Question for the antiwar protesters

The more aware protestors see an opportunity to form a force that goes beyond Iraq. They hope to build in strength until they are strong enough that they have to be at least listened to.

Well it seemed to me that we're mor voicing our displeasure with Bush's DECISION to attack.

One theme from Harrisburg PA was that even after this is over we have work to do--mainly on making sure Bush is held accountable and enacting our own "Regime Change".

This is just how I saw it from Harrisburg PA!

I hope a few other dissenters will voice opinions.

I think there is also a sense that the rest of the world thinks we're all for the war. If the protests make international news then they'll see that some of us are very much against it.

as nimh said "make law not war"

dys


That's a slogan not an answer.

if one (as i do) think this administration is acting the outlaw, i see no alternative to continued resistence to current policy.

littlek


I see it's to tell the '"world" it's not me it's Bush.

if one (as i do) think this administration is acting the outlaw, i see no alternative to continued resistence to current policy.

This is most definitely not the place I need to be, but I'm here all the same.

Since I don't have television available to me while at work, I keep news radio on at all times ~ the latest poll (forgive me, I don't know which poll) is stating that 76% approve of the war ~ and the objectives behind it.

My own opinion.....

No, I'm not pleased that we are at war, but also believe that diplomacy has been tried through and through ~ where do we draw the line?

dys
I agree with you about the actions of the administration. However as far as Iraq is concerned the faucet has been turned on and I see no way to turn it off.

so au where would you draw the line? i dont have an answer to that.

I agree with all the reasons listed here. I think there are likely many more reasons - to each his own.

Rae
Can't rely on polls. It depends upon who and what was asked. I also believe many people since the die has been cast are more inclined to say they agree because they don't want to feel the are not supporting our troops.

It's very much a matter of conscience. Some of us must protest the war or live with guilt. I have to agree with what I believe Rae said. I regret the chain of events that led to the invasion, but in the absence of convincing evidence of complience from Mr. Hussein of the destruction of NBC weapons and the means to deliver them, we have no other choice. This is also a matter of conscience.

Roger - well said. I think my conscience is my driving motivation.

dyslexia
My position has been made clear on several threads, And I have suffered the slings and arrows for it. The demonstrations at least those that keep shouting end the war in Iraq should be put on hold. It is not feasible. I posted this question after asking my wife who was all for the demonstrations the same question.

I agree with what been said plus a certain issue... that it not be established that no matter how against the war people are, they shut up if the leader just goes against their wishes and does it anyway. What worth will future protests before an action have, then?

i'm not slinging any arrows au, at least not in your direction

Re: Question for the antiwar protesters


No, definitely not - not me, anyway.

Now that the war started, I hope it'll be over as soon as possible - which would imply a speedy US victory. The only risk about that outcome is that the US administration will only feel emboldened in projects to take on a next country like this, and then a next, with the same disregard of international law and institutions, of local sensitivities and possible repercussions in creating new support for terrorist groups, with the same - blooy-mindedness, to put it crudely.

I personally want the US to win this war now that it started, but I want it to please play by the rules again next time, because I deeply believe that though this war might free the Iraqis (on the short term, and in a relative sense, in any case), it has made the world as a whole a more dangerous place.

There's my reason for "continued peace protests". We have to at least try to make clear that supporting the soldiers now that the war started does not mean we want this experiment to be repeated. Whether it is naive to hope that this message actually gets through, I don't know. But it's always, fundamentally, worth trying.

One additional (minor) reason for continued protests is to emphasise again that support for the current war effort is more conditional than for any previous one, and that the way it is carried out will therefore be critically monitored.

The only good thing about this war I can see is that it will liberate the Iraqis from their current dictatorship. Showing now that we are critical of Bush's motives and that, if we do support some war effort, it is only for this goal, ensures that it wont be easy for the administration to install a 'friendly dictatorship' after the war, for example (as it has done so often before), or to disregard the fate of the Kurds if the Turkish allies do pull in en masse - or for it to OK war strategies that take needless amounts of civilian lives. By saying we believe this war was not (yet) necessary, we are also saying that we will not accept (in as far as we have anything to say) the kind of onslaught on civilians and retreating soldiers that took place in the last Gulf War. Thats the watchdog-function part of the story.

This is just how I see it, of course. For every demonstrrator another story, I think ...