RSSThe war in Iraq and the anti-war movement
How would you compare the anti-war movement in the Vietnam era with today's activism to end the war in Iraq? Were the protest marches of that era more effective? Are Americans "too busy sipping frappuchinos at Starbucks and watching television" to care? Or have they organized themselves in different ways?
Comments
No comparison.
Then:
1. The war was (mis)managed directly from the executive branch of government.
2. Most of the soldiers, i.e. those fighting and dying, were indentured servants (draftees).
3. The military objective was never to win.
4. This was the first war covered by commercial media and influenced by its prejudices.
5. The cause of the war, the Gulf of Tonkin incident, was never fully explained.
Now:
1. This war (on terror) is a direct response to the the attacks on 9/11.
2. The executive branch of our government has set the political objectives - a) defeat terrorism, b) establish a democratic Afghanistan and Iraq.
2. The military is in charge of planning and conducting its own operations to meet the political objectives.
3. The military is made up of all volunteers.
Cindy Sheehan is a coward who won't even defend her own cut n run, out now beliefs. Her son believed in what he was doing and gave his life for those beliefs.
Posted by: Jim Emanuel | November 14, 2007 5:02 PM
The quickest way to end this "war" is to vote for Ron Paul... "We can just march out!"
Posted by: AAAAANDRE | November 14, 2007 8:45 PM