There are classic moments in history when the actions of a few change everything. In October 1967 a march of 70,000 on the Pentagon turned ugly, but endures in history as a milestone towards the eventual withdrawal of US troops from Vietnam.
Yesterday all over the US people once more marched against the war to mark the 4th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. In Washington 10,000 met at the start of the 1967 march to again demand the withdrawal of US troops, this time from Iraq. Crossing the Potomac the marchers ended the day in the cordoned off corral by the Pentagon. Little if any trouble ensued.
In 1967 the anti war movement generated an entire counter culture, embracing new ideas and new ways of life. By no coincidence the Ecology movement was born, as a radical offspring to traditional conservationist groups.
In 2007 the anti war movement is being handled by the establishment, it is well managed, and a comfortable day out for the kids. Somehow the anti war movement lacks the passion of 1967, but things may change.
The Vietnam War claimed 60,000 American lives (and 1,300,000 Vietnamese). The Iraq war has to date claimed 3200 American lives (and 60,000 Iraqis). Maybe it's a numbers game, maybe the controlling interests have learnt their lesson well?
Wherever the tipping point of public opinion about the war is, we haven’t yet reached it. The military industrial complex still strangles US politics and until the tide turns firmly against the war I can’t imagine what alternatives exist.
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