77 comments for “WATCH: Anti-War Rally at Lincoln Memorial”
James White
February 21, 2023 at 07:27
The Powell Doctrine states that a list of questions all have to be answered affirmatively before military action is taken by the United States:
1 Is a vital national security interest threatened? NO.
2 Do we have a clear attainable objective? NONE
3 Have the risks and costs been fully and frankly analyzed? Apparently not.
4 Have all other non-violent policy means been fully exhausted? Definitely not.
5 Is there a plausible exit strategy to avoid endless entanglement? NONE.
6 Have the consequences of our action been fully considered? Not in the least.
7 Is the action supported by the American people? Iffy
8 Do we have genuine broad international support? NO
Despite Biden’s brag that we has united the world against Russia. Only Europe is on board and they have no choice.
Valerie
February 21, 2023 at 08:20
Similar to the Weinberger doctrine of 1984. Obviously no-one reads these doctrines:
The Weinberger Doctrine asserts that:
1.The United States should not commit forces to combat unless the vital national interests of the United States or its allies are involved.
2.U.S. troops should only be committed wholeheartedly and with the clear intention of winning. Otherwise, troops should not be committed.
3.U.S. combat troops should be committed only with clearly defined political and military objectives and with the capacity to accomplish those objectives.
4.The relationship between the objectives and the size and composition of the forces committed should be continually reassessed and adjusted if necessary.
5.U.S. troops should not be committed to battle without a “reasonable assurance” of the support of U.S. public opinion and Congress.
6.The commitment of U.S. troops should be considered only as a last resort.*
James White
February 21, 2023 at 12:47
Joe Biden not only ignored every item in these two lists, he ignored Congress before committing an act of war. Why is he not being impeached for violating the Constitutional powers of the U.S. Congress?
Valerie
February 22, 2023 at 04:08
You only have to look at donald dump and his crimes to answer that question. It’s an utter travesty and an insult to us all that they act with impunity.
CaseyG
February 21, 2023 at 13:09
What wonderful ideas…. this has been around since the 1984? Wow, I like these ideas and more voters need to learn of this too! Thank you, Valerie!
Valerie
February 22, 2023 at 04:23
Great ideas CaseyG. Shame none are implemented. There are many articles on these doctrines.
Red Hornet
February 21, 2023 at 13:08
Powell Memo by Colin Powell is also known as the Pottery Barn Doctrine: You break it: You bought it.
Powell’s behavior was contradictory to his professed doctrine throughout his career as he was a tool of empire.
Also, do not confuse Powell Doctrine with the Powell Memo by later Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell (written 1971, as a memorandum before the US Chamber of Commerce). Over these last 50 years corporate business and its well financed stockholders have been able to overturn laws, seize control of legislation and court decisions, buy up and run all media monopolies, fund and mobilize right wing groups, militarize police and suppress dissent; finally making Lewis Powell’s dystopian nightmare real. Powell was a Republican but they didn’t work alone. Samuel P. Huntington of Harvard (later Jimmy Carter’s National Security Advisor) supplied the Democrat half of the sandwich. His obsession was social control and he said he believed the United States had a “surplus of democracy.”
FutureUser
February 21, 2023 at 02:03
Always watch the magician’s OTHER hand! This chaos is orchestrated to make us desperately plead for global U.N. tyranny as the “final solution” to the question of how free is it safe to let people be? Fear makes people irrational thinkers, grasping for poison they think is a cure. Concentration of power is the problem, not the solution. If the U.N. really worked, the Ukraine invasion could never have happened, or else it would have been swiftly crushed. Trusting a globalist concentration of power is foolish — don’t believe it when that magic pill is offered!
Valerie
February 21, 2023 at 08:25
“If the UN really worked”
The name alone is an oxymoron.
tiska
February 20, 2023 at 20:08
This must be the first, it will take much effort and time I fear to build a movement able to affect national policy. KEEP IT UP
The mainstream press will ignore small rallies, if they grow to a noticeable size and persist, the power base will set up violent disruptions to discredit them. if I were a lot younger I would be there… though I would not like to go to jail which is going to be a risk,
There is nothing off limits to our chosen leaders.
I am afraid for all of us, the destruction of Ukraine is just a side dish . I cannot see the power in Washington …. which now has a solid hold on public information …. allowing their plans to be disrupted. The main dish is Russia and I cannot see Russia allowing the destruction of Russia.
susan mullen
February 20, 2023 at 19:11
During 1968 Vietnam War protests in 1968, Brzezinski wrote that students should be prevented from protesting by locking them up, adding that if “leadership cannot be physically liquidated, it can at least be expelled from the country.”…Brzez. was National Security Advisor to Pres. Carter, 1977-81, also worked in Reagan, Bush #1. and LBJ administrations, advised JFK
“In his [1998] book…Brzezinski voiced his concern about the
major obstacle to Washington pursuing such an aggressive drive for hegemony:
the hostility of the vast majority of the American people to war.
He wrote: “… America is too democratic at home to be autocratic abroad. This limits the use of America’s power, especially its capacity for military intimidation. Never before has a populist democracy attained international supremacy. But the pursuit of power is not a goal that commands popular passion, except in conditions of a sudden threat or challenge to the public’s sense of domestic well-being. The economic self-denial (that is, defense spending) and the human sacrifices (casualties even among professional soldiers) required in the effort are uncongenial to democratic instincts. Democracy is inimical to imperial mobilization.” [The Grand Chessboard, Basic Books, pp. 35-36]”
He was among the more influential imperialist strategists in shaping a policy of attempting to offset the long-term decline in the world position of American capitalism by resorting to Washington’s unchallenged supremacy in terms of military might. This turn would lead to unending wars in the Middle East and Central Asia designed to assert undisputed American dominance in the regions containing the lion’s share of the world’s oil and natural gas reserves….
In an article published in the September-October 1997 issue of Foreign Affairs, Brzezinski argued:…
“In a volatile Eurasia, the immediate task is to ensure that no state or combination of states gains the ability to expel the United States or even diminish its decisive role.””…May 29, 2017, “Zbigniew Brzezinski, architect of the catastrophe in Afghanistan, dead at 89,” wsws.org…Vietnam meant the draft. Once they eliminated the draft, anti-war protests stopped—but came back again full force during 8 yrs. of G. Bush 2. No one remembers how violent these were. When Obama was elected protests stopped though Obama was a massive warmonger, in 2016 alone he dropped 131 bombs/day, 47,000+ that year. Trump of course beat him, in 2017 dropped 179 bombs/day, 60,000+ total/2017 per Pentagon Air Power Summary
Gypsy
February 20, 2023 at 18:30
I’ll believe there’s an Antiwar movement when the Revolution begins.
david Hett
February 20, 2023 at 17:51
I am sorry there weren’t more people, but that will change as we grow. The one thing we cannot do is give up by falling prey to petty issues. There are many great causes in the world, many bridges to build, but it will all come to naught if we don’t stop all of this senseless fighting. Thank you, Dave Hett, Canada
J Anthony
February 21, 2023 at 09:58
Yes, we have to grow this resistance movement- there are so many more of us than there is of them- organizing into a collective force is a huge challenge.
SH
February 20, 2023 at 16:55
Can these folks get together sufficiently to toss the war mongers out of office? That is the question – because tossing them out and replacing them with those who would dismantle the war machine is the only thing that would work …
Sharon
February 20, 2023 at 14:56
Yesterday I was taken aback to see the Youtube livestream was not starting on time. Others at the website were rolling along and Sabby Sabs’ was the best audio I found until the People’s Podcast started a half hour into it. Sabby’s is at youtube dot com/watch?v=UZ-X6Otu05Y&t=1241s if you want to hear Max Blumenthal, Chris Hedges, Garland Nixon et al from the first half hour.
The “controversy” surrounding this rally has been very enlightening to me. I have learned what people mean by “latte liberal.” I saw a description in someone’s comment I will be repeating, “leftier than thou.” I am appalled by supposed progressives trying to pressure others into NOT showing up to this rally, based on their skewed (in my opinion) view of nefarious motives of the organizers and speakers. For instance, to say it was not an anti-war rally, when it is right there in the title, just beggars belief.
robert e williamson jr
February 21, 2023 at 09:55
Sharon get used to it.
The democrats blew any chance at consolidation of what ever is considered liberal values into a winning coalition, when they ran Hilary and then inserted Biden as a candidate.
Hilary was one Clinton too many for most people with sound minds.
In the process the DeepStaters got what they have been wanting all along. Hilary loss on her own merits and the DS got someone who tore the country apart. The enemy within won and the rest of us lost.
This country population is currently hopelessly fractured and fragmented, the products of unstable leadership in the White House and lack of leadership everywhere else.
This was the good news, the bad news is that same population seems to have given up on “taking their countries leadership to task for the dereliction of their constitutional duties and abdicating their power to the lobbyist who were given carte blanche by the courts.
Maybe for the next Peace march or gathering someone will spring for free Starbucks for everyone attending and give out gift cards.
Now pleas excuse me I have to go barf!!
Laurie Holbrook
February 20, 2023 at 13:25
Thank you Consortium News for making this protest available. No, this isn’t the 60s – go figure. It took many, many years to end the Vietnam war. The nay Sayers commenting here have lost hope; just keep it to yourself.
robert e williamson jr
February 21, 2023 at 13:17
I support Consortium news with the same vigor as I support Peace, Love and Understanding.
A former baseball commissioner once said that ‘hope’ only screws up your judgement.
Understanding is key to all Peace and Love. I’m of the conviction that too large a percentage of Americans do not ‘get it’, that is understand the stakes here.
I genuinely believe that Consortium news and the others who organized the Rage Against The War Machine Rally engaged in a constructive exercise.
I actually have tremendous faith in my fellow men and women, we have ruled the roost on this planet for quite some time.
I ask did you read the comment of Susan Mullen.
I agree with SH above, Feb 20, l2023 @ 14:56 I take great delight in informing you that you last sentence here is very revealing, too bad you weren’t around for the draft.
Your “shut up if you don’t agree with me” is counter productive, what is needed is more dissent.
LeoSun
February 20, 2023 at 12:31
Imo, a f/phenomenal Rally against the War Machine!!! I wasn’t present for “the Win;” but, I will $upport Consortium News for being there!!! TY. Indeed, “The Right Thing to Do, Protest & Survive!!! Thank You!
The ‘news’ today, Ohhhhhh, joy, “The Opposition” rolls on, alone, w/their own, “We cannot continue to fuel a war that creates such daily suffering and risks becoming a nuclear confrontation,” said MEDEA BENJAMIN, peace activist and co-founder of CodePink, ahead of the lobby day.
“We need Congress to take a stand and push for urgent diplomatic efforts to end the war.”
“LOBBY DAY,” Tuesday, 2.21.23” “Peace advocates fm across the” Divided $tates of Corporate America “plan to convene’ in D.C., lobbying, Biden-Harris, their Board of Executioners & Congress, “for a ceasefire & diplomatic talks in Ukraine.”
Imo, CodePink needs “to take a stand and push” to free themselves from the tentacles that got ‘em @ “Code BLUE!!!” Who’d a thunk, CodePink’s NOT FREE!!! Sounds to me, like CP’s “GOT” A $oros callin’ the shots!?!…imo, goin’ down that rabbit hole, will invariably lead to the “Benjamin$” @ the Center of Democrat Control (The CDC).
Obviously, after “raging” against the “Rage” against the Rally “RAGING” against The WAR Machine, CodePink’s & Others, TODAY, “GOT” to be feeling like f/lemmings, wuss’n out of yesterday’s “LIVE!” peaceful, effective, righteous protest against Empire!
Onward & Upwards. Indeed, MORE protests, ignited by “The POWER of The SPIRIT!!!” (DENNIS KUCINICH, The Man who should be our “forever” President. Like Vladimir Putin is for Russia. Imo, Ralph Nader, Dennis Kucinich & Dr. Jill Stein can change lanes & end, diplomatically, the US/NATO vs. Russia war, in Ukraine & every other Country the Divided $tates of Corporate America occupies. Imo, the Biden-Harris DUO is DONE! “Off w/their Heads” NOT literally” (CHRIS HEDGES). The trifecta, Nader, Kucinich, Stein, together and/or alone, imo, got what it takes to get it done!!!
No doubt, CodePink, The Veterans For Peace, et al., will “Bring It,” their Member$hip, to the next Rally against the War Machine. W/o a doubt, they are welcome to Stand, in public, with the People For Free Speech, Free Press, Free Julian Assange, For Peace NOT War. “ENOUGH!” We demand Change!” (ROGER WATERS). Keep It Lit. Ciao
NATO must be held to account for its war crimes!!!
robert94015.substack.com
Nelson Betancourt
February 20, 2023 at 10:49
Hello Mr. Lauria: Could you as the editor of CN get Dennis Kucinich to release a copy of his speech? I watched the event ‘Live” yesterday, but I was not able to find a text copy of his speech. Also, I didn’t stay to watch the march to the White House where there were to be other speakers. Does CN have this clip and could you post it, too? Thank you.
Ray
February 20, 2023 at 10:44
The sound, was it tuned down at some point during McNight’s talk of his petition?
Disband the Guard
John Jankowski
February 20, 2023 at 10:34
Baby steps on tippy-toes but I liked what I saw and heard. I’m in, albeit with much anxiety. I hope WE can begin to muster local interest and grow local chapters.
bonbon
February 20, 2023 at 06:25
Pres. Biden just landed in Kiev – running from the Rage?
Realist
February 20, 2023 at 14:37
Yes, I just noticed that America’s neo-Nazi Neo-cons have become so desperate in their losing cause that they are now trying this gambit to create some outrageous false flag crisis that will prompt Congress to actually declare formal war on Russia. Lord Biden has always been no more than a mere prop in their contrived drama because, quite clearly, his mind has been long gone and they risk nothing whatever may happen to the fool. He may be kidnapped, seized or even killed with the act blamed upon Putin and the Russians. It doesn’t even have to be true. The neo-con regime could claim this even as the idiot is treated to five star service at Keev’s finest hotel for the rest of the escapade. Such as incident would be so provocative that the US military would probably go straight to their nuclear arsenal without even posturing an ersatz troop mobilisation. Madness simply reigns in Washington, Arlington and Langley and they are close to destroying humanity to avoid an embarrassing loss to Russia in the pure American creation of World War III. The warmongering incendiary Matt Drudge expresses the gravity and reality of this ultimate contrived crisis to a tee when he supposedly quotes the rabid Ukie leadership as vowing “our tanks will take Red Square.” So, it’s “On to Richmond! Remember the Alamo! On to Havana!” “Saddam his to go. Gadaffi has to go. Putin has to go!” Name your poison, Uncle Sam’s buying all the rounds for the duration. These evil wretched people, true to their Nazi Banderite roots, have been brainwashed by their American manipulators to believe that World War III has most definitely been initiated and that, without question, they will prevail with limitless help from the despicable USA. This is it people. Jimmie Carter, bless his heart, may well have a longer life expectency than most of us. Crazy Joe is not in it to win an academy award at this point. His piece on the “grand chessboard” is being played by the Deep State at this very moment for its maximum effect. Once the war is declared and the nukes are deployed his existence becomes totally irrelevant.
Jim
February 20, 2023 at 04:34
Good to see this. Thanks, CN. I went to YouTube first and in the Search box typed “D.C. Protest”. There was a tiny bit of footage about the rally, but an equal amount about a pro-Ukraine war counter-rally. Of course…
Thanks very much Joe Lauria and Consortium news for providing a link so we could watch it from New Zealand. A great effort by all who participated and organised the event, which counters western mainstream media’s criminally dangerous propaganda about the Ukraine war, that omits its origins in US foreign policy activities. We had to go out so could not watch the entire rally but hope it will be recorded for viewing later. We were delighted to see the Russian flag appearing from time to time.! I don’t know whnt happened after the march to confront Biden at the Capitol. – i hope it was not met with military or police violence.
Valerie
February 21, 2023 at 07:07
Yes Kay. I wanted to see what happened after the march to the WH too. Love your website.
Me Myself
February 19, 2023 at 20:41
Consortium News leading the way to the New Mainstream Media!
Jimmy Dore in 24 ****
Rubicon
February 19, 2023 at 20:10
Can someone explain why none of these politicians, and activists repeatedly fail to reveal WHO The Big League Players are behind this “war” in the Ukraine? It’s certainly not US/EU/UK politicians. We know they are all bought off by The US/EU/UK Financiers. In fact, these are the Super Billionaires;folks like Schwab, Soros, Big Tech CEOS, The Big Banks in the US, the EU, and the UK, to name only a few.
When did so many American citizens stop being skeptical? When did they stop using their critical thinking skills?
Laurie Hobrook
February 20, 2023 at 15:14
Have you not listened? Numerous speakers have named those corporate types. And it certainly is along with politicians in the US/UK/EU/ Canada.
shmutzoid
February 19, 2023 at 19:42
As I said on a different thread, this rally has all the makings of a one-day-‘feel good’-happening. The Pussy Parade of what counts for anti-war activism. ……. I’m sure all who attended will feel, er, ’empowered’. …….. This so-called ‘left-right’ alliance will, in the long run, harm any leftist movement that sees, correctly, how the permanence of war is bound up with capitalism. The libertarian/right wing stance against paying for this war is an unprincipled one. They will benefit from this one-day-happening more than those who call themselves progressives. ……………The libertarian/right wing brand is now polished up for those disaffected liberals who, come next election, will see them as an attractive alternative to establishment Dems. The fact of these libertarians being even MORE hostile to working people than the Dems will be whitewashed by today’s rally.
…for an intelligent rebuttal to Chris Hedges’ endorsement of today’s rally, see wsws.org
Lauren Steiner
February 20, 2023 at 11:29
You are absolutely right. I was skeptical of this gathering not so much for the left right alliance, but because these organizers are all grifters building a brand. They have no history organizing against war just like they have no history organizing for Medicare for All, their last cause they organized marches for. Nick Brana, who I know personally, goes from one cause celebre to another. He does everything except start the third party his organization is supposed to be about.
Like you surmised, nothing will come of this except legitimacy for the Libertarians. Even if they were good faith organizers, as Jane McAlevy says, mobilizing is not organizing. Something much come next. This group will not take names. They will not form local groups. They will not lobby their representatives in their district offices. It will be a flash in the pan.
Blessthebeasts
February 20, 2023 at 12:02
With all due respect, “taking names,” “forming local groups,” and most of all “lobbying their representatives” have been abysmal failures as a force for change. It’s gotten even more ludicrous since Barack Obama became president.
Harriet Heywood
February 20, 2023 at 17:12
Since when is coming together across ideological divides counterproductive. We did it to stop the TPP, and it worked because war sucks for everybody. Perhaps you like divisions. Well, I do not! And calling all the organizers grifters building a brand is something Biden or Trump would say. People organize events because Washington politicians don’t care about the people. We are invisible to them. I don’t agree, ideologically with all the organizers, but I agree with them on this issue. What could be more important than stopping the progression of this horrible war?
Laurie Hobrook
February 20, 2023 at 13:17
Sorry to see that you have so little faith in a pan antiwar movement. Being anti-war is not the sole purvey of socialists. An opportunity to pull together on something that affects EVERYONE is to be celebrated and encouraged. You are no better in your thinking than the very people you criticize. Please, get over yourself.
Laurie Holbrook
February 20, 2023 at 14:31
You and Laurie, the comment coming next supporting your viewpoint, have bought into the ruling classes divide and conquer strategy. Good for you. People coming together, who traditionally fight each other, against war and the threat of nuclear annihilation is a good thing. Get over yourselves.
Jon McCoy
February 20, 2023 at 14:52
I hear you, but I’m not so sure I agree. I’m not sure about this but I read there was only about 1500 or so people who showed up? Is this true? I’m not 100% sure but it’s what I read early this morning. There was a million people out marching in ’82 in NYC, correct? What happened to the anti-war movement? I say this as someone who’s no radical in the sense that the Berrigan brothers were radicals, but as a concerned citizen who has volunteered and worked with the homeless and who demonstrated at rallies, for what it’s worth, multiple times. What has happened to us(the peace movement)?
The World Socialist Website…again, I’m not so sure about these people. Granted, to be fair, I don’t know that I trust the Libertarian party, either. But the folks at WSW, these are the people who revere Trotsky as some sort of savior figure, correct? From what I’ve read, this guy Trotsky killed people and was responsible for administrative polices in the Red Army, etc., that were responsible for the deaths of many.
How many people has Chris Hedges killed? Perhaps Chris did kill someone in the conflicts and wars he’s covered, although if he did my guess is it would have been in a legitimate case of self defense. But I’ve never heard Chris talk about such a thing, and I’ve never heard anyone make any allegations against him in that regard.
I’m not saying you’re wrong, necessarily. I’m saying I question a lot of what they say over at wsws.org. They seem to rail against identity politics a lot of the time. They didn’t have much good to say of the “Me Too” movement, for instance. They’re not big on phony liberals, but if someone is a Libertarian from Arkansas, well, that’s not ok either. But somehow, Trotsky and Che Guevara are great guys and great men. To be fair, I myself would prefer Guevara and Trotsky over men like Dubya and Dick Cheney. But that’s not much of a contest or a choice, either, to say the least. Who should really rule the world? Probably someone like Mr. Rodgers or Helen Caldicott. But that will never happen, unfortunately.
Valerie
February 21, 2023 at 07:11
I tend to agree with your skepticism Jon, on the WSW. On occasion i have found them to inflate certain facts, which when i questioned, received no answer.
Bill Todd
February 21, 2023 at 03:46
Looking to wsws.org for intelligence is likely to be a disappointment. It is a one-trick-pony of inflexible ideology which has had no discernible effect upon U.S. politics for nearly a century now let alone any ability to attract actual voters. Since the Great Depression U.S. voters have been less interested in abstract ideology than in ‘kitchen table’ issues which is why Bernie Sanders managed to attract well over 10 million supporters in his two presidential campaigns by concentrating on the latter (and to inspire other progressive candidates to start using similar approaches with more success than had previously been achievable) and likely why the Libertarian party has become the only moderately successful ‘third’ party since the Democratic party managed to shift blame to the Greens for Gore’s loss of the 2000 presidential election.
The best way to characterize wsws.org is with the old grade-school observation “Does not play well with others” with an added note “Including siblings” (e.g., the DSA, which has had considerably more recent success with a less off-putting attitude). Their ‘our way or the highway’ approach to the first general anti-war effort to challenge the establishment’s intense propaganda is typical of them. To borrow a phrase from Dick Chency, they obviously have other priorities.
Valerie
February 19, 2023 at 16:34
SENILE POTUS; UKRAINE LAUNDROMAT FOR POLITICIANS; BIDEN IS THE NORDSTREAM BOMBER. LOL. Great posters in the background.
I liked Jimmy Dore’s list of what we could have done with all the money foolishly spent on war. And glad to see some people mentioning Julian Assange. And the last song.
Drew Hunkins
February 20, 2023 at 01:17
Yes, Jimmy’s list was excellent.
Raymond Sullivan
February 19, 2023 at 16:29
Thanks for broadcasting the event!
Alexander
February 19, 2023 at 16:13
Who the heck is that person with Russian flag? Provocateur? This is the Rage by Americans for America. To me it looks like the only purpose of that person to help NAFOdogs to accuse participants of being “russian agents”.
I’m saying this as Russian myself.
Altruist
February 19, 2023 at 18:29
Thought the same thing. Also, the Larouche banner behind the speakers sent the wrong message.
Ole
February 20, 2023 at 03:22
If a Russian flag in America is controversial then the road to peace is long indeed.
Em
February 20, 2023 at 10:16
Don’t you actually mean as a biased anti-Russian, now residing in the West?
The “Rage Against War” was an anti-War rally. It was surely not intended as an outlet for your individual rage against Russia. Slow down, pay attention, stop rush’in to condemn!
You’ve been thoroughly bewitched by the Western narration!
Romford Rob
February 20, 2023 at 10:56
I quite agree — I could not believe that the organizers did not intervene to move the flag from prominence. The rally was about stopping the killing, not supporting Russia. To the casual observer of clips, etc. this now runs the risk of being dismissed as “Putin apology”. Geez.
This whole mess is a work of political genius — no doubt years in the planning — by the US “policymakers”. There were some very good signs at the rally yesterday. The one that sums it all up for me was displayed by a lone woman which read “Stop Being Evil”.
Ray
February 20, 2023 at 11:04
I’m not sure it’s what you may think. With Russia via Putin trying to keep Ukraine neutral at its border, and retain its democracy, but with the build up of Azov and Nazi led groups amassing close to 130,000 troops toward the end of Feb 2022, preparing to massacre what after 8 yrs of bombing anything left of Russian in Donbas, and that is why Putin moved in and people of Donbas had wished he had chosen sooner and he didn’t do a shock an awe, but gave a soft approach to allow for surrendering, but he was misled, and maybe due to fears of the Donbas who were stuck in basements and snipers awaiting all who tried to escape, I dunno. So the support is perhaps cheering the attempt to protect Donbas?
Rafael
February 20, 2023 at 21:01
I was happy to see the Russian flag, and I think I spotted a Chinese flag too at one point. Peace means peace for everyone!
Rudy Haugeneder
February 19, 2023 at 15:54
Very poor turnout. Americans, it seems, prefer a big war involving Nato troops. Sad because they will likely get their wish.
The turnout is poor because real leftists recognized that this event was a fraud perpetrated by the far right as a way to raise money and divide the enemy against itself while pushing its own agenda.
J Anthony
February 21, 2023 at 10:07
Are we sure about that?
Packard
February 19, 2023 at 20:07
Agreed on the poor turnout. Probably because most Americans think the cost of a nuclear WW III with Russia will only entail having them put out more of their virtue signaling yard signs, and flying more Ukrainian flags.
Note: The Vietnam protests died out fairly quickly once Nixon ended the draft and half the country immediately realized that they no longer had their own skin in the game.
Valerie
February 20, 2023 at 04:08
What was the turnout, do you know? An extensive search this morning on major european news sites revealed not one article about this event. Says it all.
Steve Naidamast
February 20, 2023 at 10:57
I disagree with your assessment…
I think most Americans can’t stand our government but are just too worn out and discouraged to do anything about it.
Besides, what will a single rally do? This ain’t the 60s…
Ray
February 20, 2023 at 11:31
I’m not so sure of the ‘dying down’ but I can say, after Reagan was elected and religious zealots taking control[the Air force Academy in Colorado Springs has been inundated by Xian prosyletising and all but taken over], the 80% of religious Xians voted for Trumped-up.
Really? The first anti-war moratoriums against Vietnam War, post writings of the fraud being perpetrated for what it was, and even a single actor who went to N Vietnam and was demonised for her actions, history showed she was correct, as the Pentagon Papers showed and Ramparts revealed its true intent, only then did folks get involved, and when I and those I often were with, it wasn’t about just the Vietnam War, but war period. The CIA quickly picked up the former fraud, and created another one. Then the de-manufacturing with companies moving jobs in order to hurt Unions and pay fair wages, with families then needing both parents to work, and etc, it may seem small, but please do not denigrate any spark, the first action in creating a raging fire. Fuel, O2, smaller easy to burn kindling,with only a spark needed to start any7 bigger action.
You’re seeking to snuff out the initial spark are you? Cynics never get things done, are you sure that’s the best way to go?
Susan Siens
February 20, 2023 at 16:59
Just to let you know, supposedly it was the banksters who backed deindustrialization, preferring a credit economy. And now they are presumably following the same game plan in Europe with the Eurovassals going right along with it.
Mary Caldwell
February 20, 2023 at 11:43
Many, many of us were there in spirit . So hardly a “very poor turnout.”
Realist
February 19, 2023 at 15:24
Better put recordings of these events in some nuclear bomb-proof underground safe so the space aliens who dig up the remains of 21st century Earth society know that there were at least a few sane humans who attempted to stop the nuclear wars with Russia and China that the likes of crazy Lord Biden and his neocon minions are dead set on bringing about. Those maniacs would sacrifice all of humanity, including their own families, to be able to brag that they were “man enough” to stand up to the false narrative they have deliberately created of Vladimir Putin, the only true diplomate who has futilely attempted to negotiate a peace with the warmongering West, only to be rebuffed, on numerous occasions.
Sadly, every last asshole in the White House itself realises that if they accept peace rather than total war their entire hegemony ultimately completely unravels. People will end up questioning everything (as they should) if they have the rights and freedom to do so. In the American bipartisan War Party’s diseased minds, if they cannot maintain absolute power over the whole damned planet, then absolutely no one else can have any say whatever. So, sorry to say, if they can’t control everything and everybody then NOBODY can. Nobody can even be allowed to live.
As for you space aliens picking up the pieces of our fallen human civilisation, for the history books if nothing else, learn the lesson that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Why did those fools called humans, spanning perhaps a couple hundred thousand years ever develop such a persistent widespread philosophy and way of life that rewarded at most a mere 1% of the total population with nearly all the benefits of the entire planet’s natural resources? Many fools amongst the failed human experiment insisted to their dying breaths that consummate selfishness has always been the key to human success and survival. “Randian objectivism” the fools called this formalised apologia for greed. Boy howdy, were their charred corpses ever proven wrong since such thinking is exactly what led to their final inevitable decision to unleash nuclear hell upon Russia, which was left with absolutely NO alternative option but to launch their last quest for cosmic justice: their promised dead hand counterstrike. What else could these imbeciles possibly have expected? Believe that it will happen, fools, and just moments after Uncle Sam makes his last mistake in all of history that will end all history. Everybody KNOWS that they are entitled to the same universal rights and security. The Russians, the Chinese, the Iranians and numerous other civilisations repeatedly persecuted by America and its bullshit machine KNOW this as well as any registered American voter. Nobody is going to cede any of that to a bunch of hypocrites in Washington who praise these rights and freedoms to the high heavens and yet persistently and systematically attempt to deprive them from most of the rest of humanity. The only way any system of co-existence works over the long term is for YOU to treat your neighbor as you would demand he treats you. This reciprocity and desired, nay essential, equity (“fraternity, equality, liberty”) is where human beings repeatedly failed and why humanity no longer exists during whatever you alien beings choose to call this era far into our lost future.
andor
February 19, 2023 at 20:33
I could not have stated the facts any better than you did. Great job, but all the idiots out there that get their morals from Hollywood and Twitter, don’t seem to be clued in to the realities of our present situation.
Valerie
February 20, 2023 at 04:04
Great comments Realist. Your idea to record events reminded me of a film/documentary entitled “the age of stupid” by Franny Armstrong from 2009 starring Pete Poslethwaite. Whereas these records relate to climate breakdown and humans’ failure to address it, the idea is the same. I believe it can be found on youtube.
Vicente Miguel Molinero
February 20, 2023 at 08:51
Amused to Death
We watched the tragedy unfold
We did as we were told
We bought and sold
It was the greatest show on earth
But then it was over
We ohhed and aahed
We drove our racing cars
We ate our last few jars of caviar
And somewhere out there in the stars
A keen-eyed look-out
Spied a flickering light
Our last hurrah
Our last hurrah
And when they found our shadows
Grouped ’round the TV sets
They ran down every lead
They repeated every test
They checked out all the data on their lists
And then, the alien anthropologists
Admitted they were still perplexed
But on eliminating every other reason
For our sad demise
They logged the only explanation left
This species has amused itself to death
No tears to cry, no feelings left
This species has amused itself to death….
-Roger Waters
Blessthebeasts
February 20, 2023 at 11:57
????
CaseyG
February 20, 2023 at 13:30
I’m not sure where this quote came from, but it was my grandmother’s favorite.
“A man of words and not of deeds , is like a garden full of weeds.”
Arch Stanton
February 20, 2023 at 10:16
Spot on unfortunately, thanks
Jon M
February 20, 2023 at 21:02
Realist, this is no mere comment that you’ve gone and posted. This is literature. To me, your piece sounds as if Kurt Vonnegut faked his death back in ’07. Very nice and well done, Sir. Or Ma’am, if that’s the case. God bless you.
Alex Cox
February 19, 2023 at 14:33
Excellent live report! Thank you.
Drew Hunkins
February 19, 2023 at 14:08
Great job all! Wish I could be there! Give ’em heII!
Nancy Oden
February 19, 2023 at 13:12
Don’t let speakers speak too long – make sure no more than 5-7 minutes apiece, says this old antiwar organizer. This is only the beginning of building the these-days antiwar movement.Love to you all!
medo
February 19, 2023 at 12:02
Go with God, and be careful, I fear that the vile village in power will not be pleased
Rebecca Turner
February 20, 2023 at 02:55
What gives you the impression than the US ruling class even knew there was an anti-war march? If they did, it would have given them something to laugh about. No doubt the few people who turned up felt they were “doing something” but if that thing was long predicted to be a pointless waste of effort – and it certainly was – then why keep doing that thing? I’ll believe there’s a start to an anti-war movement when there’s a general strike.
SH
February 20, 2023 at 17:49
So, Rebecca, are you working to organize such a strike? And who would participate? Only “Lefties”? only “Righties”? or should all the folks who oppose these wars participate? And there are a lot of such folks, but if “Lefties” won’t join with “Righties” or vice-versa, who remains?
I have seen this so often – the “circular firing squads” that, it seems, the PTB can count on to self destruct …
One can argue that getting folks together for any cause is a pipe dream – but if more of us don’t start smokin’ that pipe, we will be the ones who get smoked …
Rubbing two sticks together can produce a spark – will we provide the tinder to sustain it …
Blessthebeasts
February 21, 2023 at 12:09
Good analogy!
Rafael
February 20, 2023 at 21:14
I don’t know of any antiwar movement that didn’t start with small protests. Do you really want to stop this one before it even has a chance to get going?
J Anthony
February 21, 2023 at 10:12
It’s got to start somewhere, somehow. It won’t be easy and may take years to grow into something formidable. Do your part.
The Powell Doctrine states that a list of questions all have to be answered affirmatively before military action is taken by the United States:
1 Is a vital national security interest threatened? NO.
2 Do we have a clear attainable objective? NONE
3 Have the risks and costs been fully and frankly analyzed? Apparently not.
4 Have all other non-violent policy means been fully exhausted? Definitely not.
5 Is there a plausible exit strategy to avoid endless entanglement? NONE.
6 Have the consequences of our action been fully considered? Not in the least.
7 Is the action supported by the American people? Iffy
8 Do we have genuine broad international support? NO
Despite Biden’s brag that we has united the world against Russia. Only Europe is on board and they have no choice.
Similar to the Weinberger doctrine of 1984. Obviously no-one reads these doctrines:
The Weinberger Doctrine asserts that:
1.The United States should not commit forces to combat unless the vital national interests of the United States or its allies are involved.
2.U.S. troops should only be committed wholeheartedly and with the clear intention of winning. Otherwise, troops should not be committed.
3.U.S. combat troops should be committed only with clearly defined political and military objectives and with the capacity to accomplish those objectives.
4.The relationship between the objectives and the size and composition of the forces committed should be continually reassessed and adjusted if necessary.
5.U.S. troops should not be committed to battle without a “reasonable assurance” of the support of U.S. public opinion and Congress.
6.The commitment of U.S. troops should be considered only as a last resort.*
Joe Biden not only ignored every item in these two lists, he ignored Congress before committing an act of war. Why is he not being impeached for violating the Constitutional powers of the U.S. Congress?
You only have to look at donald dump and his crimes to answer that question. It’s an utter travesty and an insult to us all that they act with impunity.
What wonderful ideas…. this has been around since the 1984? Wow, I like these ideas and more voters need to learn of this too! Thank you, Valerie!
Great ideas CaseyG. Shame none are implemented. There are many articles on these doctrines.
Powell Memo by Colin Powell is also known as the Pottery Barn Doctrine: You break it: You bought it.
Powell’s behavior was contradictory to his professed doctrine throughout his career as he was a tool of empire.
Also, do not confuse Powell Doctrine with the Powell Memo by later Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell (written 1971, as a memorandum before the US Chamber of Commerce). Over these last 50 years corporate business and its well financed stockholders have been able to overturn laws, seize control of legislation and court decisions, buy up and run all media monopolies, fund and mobilize right wing groups, militarize police and suppress dissent; finally making Lewis Powell’s dystopian nightmare real. Powell was a Republican but they didn’t work alone. Samuel P. Huntington of Harvard (later Jimmy Carter’s National Security Advisor) supplied the Democrat half of the sandwich. His obsession was social control and he said he believed the United States had a “surplus of democracy.”
Always watch the magician’s OTHER hand! This chaos is orchestrated to make us desperately plead for global U.N. tyranny as the “final solution” to the question of how free is it safe to let people be? Fear makes people irrational thinkers, grasping for poison they think is a cure. Concentration of power is the problem, not the solution. If the U.N. really worked, the Ukraine invasion could never have happened, or else it would have been swiftly crushed. Trusting a globalist concentration of power is foolish — don’t believe it when that magic pill is offered!
“If the UN really worked”
The name alone is an oxymoron.
This must be the first, it will take much effort and time I fear to build a movement able to affect national policy. KEEP IT UP
The mainstream press will ignore small rallies, if they grow to a noticeable size and persist, the power base will set up violent disruptions to discredit them. if I were a lot younger I would be there… though I would not like to go to jail which is going to be a risk,
There is nothing off limits to our chosen leaders.
I am afraid for all of us, the destruction of Ukraine is just a side dish . I cannot see the power in Washington …. which now has a solid hold on public information …. allowing their plans to be disrupted. The main dish is Russia and I cannot see Russia allowing the destruction of Russia.
During 1968 Vietnam War protests in 1968, Brzezinski wrote that students should be prevented from protesting by locking them up, adding that if “leadership cannot be physically liquidated, it can at least be expelled from the country.”…Brzez. was National Security Advisor to Pres. Carter, 1977-81, also worked in Reagan, Bush #1. and LBJ administrations, advised JFK
“In his [1998] book…Brzezinski voiced his concern about the
major obstacle to Washington pursuing such an aggressive drive for hegemony:
the hostility of the vast majority of the American people to war.
He wrote: “… America is too democratic at home to be autocratic abroad. This limits the use of America’s power, especially its capacity for military intimidation. Never before has a populist democracy attained international supremacy. But the pursuit of power is not a goal that commands popular passion, except in conditions of a sudden threat or challenge to the public’s sense of domestic well-being. The economic self-denial (that is, defense spending) and the human sacrifices (casualties even among professional soldiers) required in the effort are uncongenial to democratic instincts. Democracy is inimical to imperial mobilization.” [The Grand Chessboard, Basic Books, pp. 35-36]”
He was among the more influential imperialist strategists in shaping a policy of attempting to offset the long-term decline in the world position of American capitalism by resorting to Washington’s unchallenged supremacy in terms of military might. This turn would lead to unending wars in the Middle East and Central Asia designed to assert undisputed American dominance in the regions containing the lion’s share of the world’s oil and natural gas reserves….
In an article published in the September-October 1997 issue of Foreign Affairs, Brzezinski argued:…
“In a volatile Eurasia, the immediate task is to ensure that no state or combination of states gains the ability to expel the United States or even diminish its decisive role.””…May 29, 2017, “Zbigniew Brzezinski, architect of the catastrophe in Afghanistan, dead at 89,” wsws.org…Vietnam meant the draft. Once they eliminated the draft, anti-war protests stopped—but came back again full force during 8 yrs. of G. Bush 2. No one remembers how violent these were. When Obama was elected protests stopped though Obama was a massive warmonger, in 2016 alone he dropped 131 bombs/day, 47,000+ that year. Trump of course beat him, in 2017 dropped 179 bombs/day, 60,000+ total/2017 per Pentagon Air Power Summary
I’ll believe there’s an Antiwar movement when the Revolution begins.
I am sorry there weren’t more people, but that will change as we grow. The one thing we cannot do is give up by falling prey to petty issues. There are many great causes in the world, many bridges to build, but it will all come to naught if we don’t stop all of this senseless fighting. Thank you, Dave Hett, Canada
Yes, we have to grow this resistance movement- there are so many more of us than there is of them- organizing into a collective force is a huge challenge.
Can these folks get together sufficiently to toss the war mongers out of office? That is the question – because tossing them out and replacing them with those who would dismantle the war machine is the only thing that would work …
Yesterday I was taken aback to see the Youtube livestream was not starting on time. Others at the website were rolling along and Sabby Sabs’ was the best audio I found until the People’s Podcast started a half hour into it. Sabby’s is at youtube dot com/watch?v=UZ-X6Otu05Y&t=1241s if you want to hear Max Blumenthal, Chris Hedges, Garland Nixon et al from the first half hour.
The “controversy” surrounding this rally has been very enlightening to me. I have learned what people mean by “latte liberal.” I saw a description in someone’s comment I will be repeating, “leftier than thou.” I am appalled by supposed progressives trying to pressure others into NOT showing up to this rally, based on their skewed (in my opinion) view of nefarious motives of the organizers and speakers. For instance, to say it was not an anti-war rally, when it is right there in the title, just beggars belief.
Sharon get used to it.
The democrats blew any chance at consolidation of what ever is considered liberal values into a winning coalition, when they ran Hilary and then inserted Biden as a candidate.
Hilary was one Clinton too many for most people with sound minds.
In the process the DeepStaters got what they have been wanting all along. Hilary loss on her own merits and the DS got someone who tore the country apart. The enemy within won and the rest of us lost.
This country population is currently hopelessly fractured and fragmented, the products of unstable leadership in the White House and lack of leadership everywhere else.
This was the good news, the bad news is that same population seems to have given up on “taking their countries leadership to task for the dereliction of their constitutional duties and abdicating their power to the lobbyist who were given carte blanche by the courts.
Maybe for the next Peace march or gathering someone will spring for free Starbucks for everyone attending and give out gift cards.
Now pleas excuse me I have to go barf!!
Thank you Consortium News for making this protest available. No, this isn’t the 60s – go figure. It took many, many years to end the Vietnam war. The nay Sayers commenting here have lost hope; just keep it to yourself.
I support Consortium news with the same vigor as I support Peace, Love and Understanding.
A former baseball commissioner once said that ‘hope’ only screws up your judgement.
Understanding is key to all Peace and Love. I’m of the conviction that too large a percentage of Americans do not ‘get it’, that is understand the stakes here.
I genuinely believe that Consortium news and the others who organized the Rage Against The War Machine Rally engaged in a constructive exercise.
I actually have tremendous faith in my fellow men and women, we have ruled the roost on this planet for quite some time.
I ask did you read the comment of Susan Mullen.
I agree with SH above, Feb 20, l2023 @ 14:56 I take great delight in informing you that you last sentence here is very revealing, too bad you weren’t around for the draft.
Your “shut up if you don’t agree with me” is counter productive, what is needed is more dissent.
Imo, a f/phenomenal Rally against the War Machine!!! I wasn’t present for “the Win;” but, I will $upport Consortium News for being there!!! TY. Indeed, “The Right Thing to Do, Protest & Survive!!! Thank You!
The ‘news’ today, Ohhhhhh, joy, “The Opposition” rolls on, alone, w/their own, “We cannot continue to fuel a war that creates such daily suffering and risks becoming a nuclear confrontation,” said MEDEA BENJAMIN, peace activist and co-founder of CodePink, ahead of the lobby day.
“We need Congress to take a stand and push for urgent diplomatic efforts to end the war.”
“LOBBY DAY,” Tuesday, 2.21.23” “Peace advocates fm across the” Divided $tates of Corporate America “plan to convene’ in D.C., lobbying, Biden-Harris, their Board of Executioners & Congress, “for a ceasefire & diplomatic talks in Ukraine.”
Imo, CodePink needs “to take a stand and push” to free themselves from the tentacles that got ‘em @ “Code BLUE!!!” Who’d a thunk, CodePink’s NOT FREE!!! Sounds to me, like CP’s “GOT” A $oros callin’ the shots!?!…imo, goin’ down that rabbit hole, will invariably lead to the “Benjamin$” @ the Center of Democrat Control (The CDC).
Obviously, after “raging” against the “Rage” against the Rally “RAGING” against The WAR Machine, CodePink’s & Others, TODAY, “GOT” to be feeling like f/lemmings, wuss’n out of yesterday’s “LIVE!” peaceful, effective, righteous protest against Empire!
Onward & Upwards. Indeed, MORE protests, ignited by “The POWER of The SPIRIT!!!” (DENNIS KUCINICH, The Man who should be our “forever” President. Like Vladimir Putin is for Russia. Imo, Ralph Nader, Dennis Kucinich & Dr. Jill Stein can change lanes & end, diplomatically, the US/NATO vs. Russia war, in Ukraine & every other Country the Divided $tates of Corporate America occupies. Imo, the Biden-Harris DUO is DONE! “Off w/their Heads” NOT literally” (CHRIS HEDGES). The trifecta, Nader, Kucinich, Stein, together and/or alone, imo, got what it takes to get it done!!!
No doubt, CodePink, The Veterans For Peace, et al., will “Bring It,” their Member$hip, to the next Rally against the War Machine. W/o a doubt, they are welcome to Stand, in public, with the People For Free Speech, Free Press, Free Julian Assange, For Peace NOT War. “ENOUGH!” We demand Change!” (ROGER WATERS). Keep It Lit. Ciao
NATO must be held to account for its war crimes!!!
robert94015.substack.com
Hello Mr. Lauria: Could you as the editor of CN get Dennis Kucinich to release a copy of his speech? I watched the event ‘Live” yesterday, but I was not able to find a text copy of his speech. Also, I didn’t stay to watch the march to the White House where there were to be other speakers. Does CN have this clip and could you post it, too? Thank you.
The sound, was it tuned down at some point during McNight’s talk of his petition?
Disband the Guard
Baby steps on tippy-toes but I liked what I saw and heard. I’m in, albeit with much anxiety. I hope WE can begin to muster local interest and grow local chapters.
Pres. Biden just landed in Kiev – running from the Rage?
Yes, I just noticed that America’s neo-Nazi Neo-cons have become so desperate in their losing cause that they are now trying this gambit to create some outrageous false flag crisis that will prompt Congress to actually declare formal war on Russia. Lord Biden has always been no more than a mere prop in their contrived drama because, quite clearly, his mind has been long gone and they risk nothing whatever may happen to the fool. He may be kidnapped, seized or even killed with the act blamed upon Putin and the Russians. It doesn’t even have to be true. The neo-con regime could claim this even as the idiot is treated to five star service at Keev’s finest hotel for the rest of the escapade. Such as incident would be so provocative that the US military would probably go straight to their nuclear arsenal without even posturing an ersatz troop mobilisation. Madness simply reigns in Washington, Arlington and Langley and they are close to destroying humanity to avoid an embarrassing loss to Russia in the pure American creation of World War III. The warmongering incendiary Matt Drudge expresses the gravity and reality of this ultimate contrived crisis to a tee when he supposedly quotes the rabid Ukie leadership as vowing “our tanks will take Red Square.” So, it’s “On to Richmond! Remember the Alamo! On to Havana!” “Saddam his to go. Gadaffi has to go. Putin has to go!” Name your poison, Uncle Sam’s buying all the rounds for the duration. These evil wretched people, true to their Nazi Banderite roots, have been brainwashed by their American manipulators to believe that World War III has most definitely been initiated and that, without question, they will prevail with limitless help from the despicable USA. This is it people. Jimmie Carter, bless his heart, may well have a longer life expectency than most of us. Crazy Joe is not in it to win an academy award at this point. His piece on the “grand chessboard” is being played by the Deep State at this very moment for its maximum effect. Once the war is declared and the nukes are deployed his existence becomes totally irrelevant.
Good to see this. Thanks, CN. I went to YouTube first and in the Search box typed “D.C. Protest”. There was a tiny bit of footage about the rally, but an equal amount about a pro-Ukraine war counter-rally. Of course…
Thanks very much Joe Lauria and Consortium news for providing a link so we could watch it from New Zealand. A great effort by all who participated and organised the event, which counters western mainstream media’s criminally dangerous propaganda about the Ukraine war, that omits its origins in US foreign policy activities. We had to go out so could not watch the entire rally but hope it will be recorded for viewing later. We were delighted to see the Russian flag appearing from time to time.! I don’t know whnt happened after the march to confront Biden at the Capitol. – i hope it was not met with military or police violence.
Yes Kay. I wanted to see what happened after the march to the WH too. Love your website.
Consortium News leading the way to the New Mainstream Media!
Jimmy Dore in 24 ****
Can someone explain why none of these politicians, and activists repeatedly fail to reveal WHO The Big League Players are behind this “war” in the Ukraine? It’s certainly not US/EU/UK politicians. We know they are all bought off by The US/EU/UK Financiers. In fact, these are the Super Billionaires;folks like Schwab, Soros, Big Tech CEOS, The Big Banks in the US, the EU, and the UK, to name only a few.
When did so many American citizens stop being skeptical? When did they stop using their critical thinking skills?
Have you not listened? Numerous speakers have named those corporate types. And it certainly is along with politicians in the US/UK/EU/ Canada.
As I said on a different thread, this rally has all the makings of a one-day-‘feel good’-happening. The Pussy Parade of what counts for anti-war activism. ……. I’m sure all who attended will feel, er, ’empowered’. …….. This so-called ‘left-right’ alliance will, in the long run, harm any leftist movement that sees, correctly, how the permanence of war is bound up with capitalism. The libertarian/right wing stance against paying for this war is an unprincipled one. They will benefit from this one-day-happening more than those who call themselves progressives. ……………The libertarian/right wing brand is now polished up for those disaffected liberals who, come next election, will see them as an attractive alternative to establishment Dems. The fact of these libertarians being even MORE hostile to working people than the Dems will be whitewashed by today’s rally.
…for an intelligent rebuttal to Chris Hedges’ endorsement of today’s rally, see wsws.org
You are absolutely right. I was skeptical of this gathering not so much for the left right alliance, but because these organizers are all grifters building a brand. They have no history organizing against war just like they have no history organizing for Medicare for All, their last cause they organized marches for. Nick Brana, who I know personally, goes from one cause celebre to another. He does everything except start the third party his organization is supposed to be about.
Like you surmised, nothing will come of this except legitimacy for the Libertarians. Even if they were good faith organizers, as Jane McAlevy says, mobilizing is not organizing. Something much come next. This group will not take names. They will not form local groups. They will not lobby their representatives in their district offices. It will be a flash in the pan.
With all due respect, “taking names,” “forming local groups,” and most of all “lobbying their representatives” have been abysmal failures as a force for change. It’s gotten even more ludicrous since Barack Obama became president.
Since when is coming together across ideological divides counterproductive. We did it to stop the TPP, and it worked because war sucks for everybody. Perhaps you like divisions. Well, I do not! And calling all the organizers grifters building a brand is something Biden or Trump would say. People organize events because Washington politicians don’t care about the people. We are invisible to them. I don’t agree, ideologically with all the organizers, but I agree with them on this issue. What could be more important than stopping the progression of this horrible war?
Sorry to see that you have so little faith in a pan antiwar movement. Being anti-war is not the sole purvey of socialists. An opportunity to pull together on something that affects EVERYONE is to be celebrated and encouraged. You are no better in your thinking than the very people you criticize. Please, get over yourself.
You and Laurie, the comment coming next supporting your viewpoint, have bought into the ruling classes divide and conquer strategy. Good for you. People coming together, who traditionally fight each other, against war and the threat of nuclear annihilation is a good thing. Get over yourselves.
I hear you, but I’m not so sure I agree. I’m not sure about this but I read there was only about 1500 or so people who showed up? Is this true? I’m not 100% sure but it’s what I read early this morning. There was a million people out marching in ’82 in NYC, correct? What happened to the anti-war movement? I say this as someone who’s no radical in the sense that the Berrigan brothers were radicals, but as a concerned citizen who has volunteered and worked with the homeless and who demonstrated at rallies, for what it’s worth, multiple times. What has happened to us(the peace movement)?
The World Socialist Website…again, I’m not so sure about these people. Granted, to be fair, I don’t know that I trust the Libertarian party, either. But the folks at WSW, these are the people who revere Trotsky as some sort of savior figure, correct? From what I’ve read, this guy Trotsky killed people and was responsible for administrative polices in the Red Army, etc., that were responsible for the deaths of many.
How many people has Chris Hedges killed? Perhaps Chris did kill someone in the conflicts and wars he’s covered, although if he did my guess is it would have been in a legitimate case of self defense. But I’ve never heard Chris talk about such a thing, and I’ve never heard anyone make any allegations against him in that regard.
I’m not saying you’re wrong, necessarily. I’m saying I question a lot of what they say over at wsws.org. They seem to rail against identity politics a lot of the time. They didn’t have much good to say of the “Me Too” movement, for instance. They’re not big on phony liberals, but if someone is a Libertarian from Arkansas, well, that’s not ok either. But somehow, Trotsky and Che Guevara are great guys and great men. To be fair, I myself would prefer Guevara and Trotsky over men like Dubya and Dick Cheney. But that’s not much of a contest or a choice, either, to say the least. Who should really rule the world? Probably someone like Mr. Rodgers or Helen Caldicott. But that will never happen, unfortunately.
I tend to agree with your skepticism Jon, on the WSW. On occasion i have found them to inflate certain facts, which when i questioned, received no answer.
Looking to wsws.org for intelligence is likely to be a disappointment. It is a one-trick-pony of inflexible ideology which has had no discernible effect upon U.S. politics for nearly a century now let alone any ability to attract actual voters. Since the Great Depression U.S. voters have been less interested in abstract ideology than in ‘kitchen table’ issues which is why Bernie Sanders managed to attract well over 10 million supporters in his two presidential campaigns by concentrating on the latter (and to inspire other progressive candidates to start using similar approaches with more success than had previously been achievable) and likely why the Libertarian party has become the only moderately successful ‘third’ party since the Democratic party managed to shift blame to the Greens for Gore’s loss of the 2000 presidential election.
The best way to characterize wsws.org is with the old grade-school observation “Does not play well with others” with an added note “Including siblings” (e.g., the DSA, which has had considerably more recent success with a less off-putting attitude). Their ‘our way or the highway’ approach to the first general anti-war effort to challenge the establishment’s intense propaganda is typical of them. To borrow a phrase from Dick Chency, they obviously have other priorities.
SENILE POTUS; UKRAINE LAUNDROMAT FOR POLITICIANS; BIDEN IS THE NORDSTREAM BOMBER. LOL. Great posters in the background.
I liked Jimmy Dore’s list of what we could have done with all the money foolishly spent on war. And glad to see some people mentioning Julian Assange. And the last song.
Yes, Jimmy’s list was excellent.
Thanks for broadcasting the event!
Who the heck is that person with Russian flag? Provocateur? This is the Rage by Americans for America. To me it looks like the only purpose of that person to help NAFOdogs to accuse participants of being “russian agents”.
I’m saying this as Russian myself.
Thought the same thing. Also, the Larouche banner behind the speakers sent the wrong message.
If a Russian flag in America is controversial then the road to peace is long indeed.
Don’t you actually mean as a biased anti-Russian, now residing in the West?
The “Rage Against War” was an anti-War rally. It was surely not intended as an outlet for your individual rage against Russia. Slow down, pay attention, stop rush’in to condemn!
You’ve been thoroughly bewitched by the Western narration!
I quite agree — I could not believe that the organizers did not intervene to move the flag from prominence. The rally was about stopping the killing, not supporting Russia. To the casual observer of clips, etc. this now runs the risk of being dismissed as “Putin apology”. Geez.
This whole mess is a work of political genius — no doubt years in the planning — by the US “policymakers”. There were some very good signs at the rally yesterday. The one that sums it all up for me was displayed by a lone woman which read “Stop Being Evil”.
I’m not sure it’s what you may think. With Russia via Putin trying to keep Ukraine neutral at its border, and retain its democracy, but with the build up of Azov and Nazi led groups amassing close to 130,000 troops toward the end of Feb 2022, preparing to massacre what after 8 yrs of bombing anything left of Russian in Donbas, and that is why Putin moved in and people of Donbas had wished he had chosen sooner and he didn’t do a shock an awe, but gave a soft approach to allow for surrendering, but he was misled, and maybe due to fears of the Donbas who were stuck in basements and snipers awaiting all who tried to escape, I dunno. So the support is perhaps cheering the attempt to protect Donbas?
I was happy to see the Russian flag, and I think I spotted a Chinese flag too at one point. Peace means peace for everyone!
Very poor turnout. Americans, it seems, prefer a big war involving Nato troops. Sad because they will likely get their wish.
The turnout is poor because real leftists recognized that this event was a fraud perpetrated by the far right as a way to raise money and divide the enemy against itself while pushing its own agenda.
Are we sure about that?
Agreed on the poor turnout. Probably because most Americans think the cost of a nuclear WW III with Russia will only entail having them put out more of their virtue signaling yard signs, and flying more Ukrainian flags.
Note: The Vietnam protests died out fairly quickly once Nixon ended the draft and half the country immediately realized that they no longer had their own skin in the game.
What was the turnout, do you know? An extensive search this morning on major european news sites revealed not one article about this event. Says it all.
I disagree with your assessment…
I think most Americans can’t stand our government but are just too worn out and discouraged to do anything about it.
Besides, what will a single rally do? This ain’t the 60s…
I’m not so sure of the ‘dying down’ but I can say, after Reagan was elected and religious zealots taking control[the Air force Academy in Colorado Springs has been inundated by Xian prosyletising and all but taken over], the 80% of religious Xians voted for Trumped-up.
Really? The first anti-war moratoriums against Vietnam War, post writings of the fraud being perpetrated for what it was, and even a single actor who went to N Vietnam and was demonised for her actions, history showed she was correct, as the Pentagon Papers showed and Ramparts revealed its true intent, only then did folks get involved, and when I and those I often were with, it wasn’t about just the Vietnam War, but war period. The CIA quickly picked up the former fraud, and created another one. Then the de-manufacturing with companies moving jobs in order to hurt Unions and pay fair wages, with families then needing both parents to work, and etc, it may seem small, but please do not denigrate any spark, the first action in creating a raging fire. Fuel, O2, smaller easy to burn kindling,with only a spark needed to start any7 bigger action.
You’re seeking to snuff out the initial spark are you? Cynics never get things done, are you sure that’s the best way to go?
Just to let you know, supposedly it was the banksters who backed deindustrialization, preferring a credit economy. And now they are presumably following the same game plan in Europe with the Eurovassals going right along with it.
Many, many of us were there in spirit . So hardly a “very poor turnout.”
Better put recordings of these events in some nuclear bomb-proof underground safe so the space aliens who dig up the remains of 21st century Earth society know that there were at least a few sane humans who attempted to stop the nuclear wars with Russia and China that the likes of crazy Lord Biden and his neocon minions are dead set on bringing about. Those maniacs would sacrifice all of humanity, including their own families, to be able to brag that they were “man enough” to stand up to the false narrative they have deliberately created of Vladimir Putin, the only true diplomate who has futilely attempted to negotiate a peace with the warmongering West, only to be rebuffed, on numerous occasions.
Sadly, every last asshole in the White House itself realises that if they accept peace rather than total war their entire hegemony ultimately completely unravels. People will end up questioning everything (as they should) if they have the rights and freedom to do so. In the American bipartisan War Party’s diseased minds, if they cannot maintain absolute power over the whole damned planet, then absolutely no one else can have any say whatever. So, sorry to say, if they can’t control everything and everybody then NOBODY can. Nobody can even be allowed to live.
As for you space aliens picking up the pieces of our fallen human civilisation, for the history books if nothing else, learn the lesson that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Why did those fools called humans, spanning perhaps a couple hundred thousand years ever develop such a persistent widespread philosophy and way of life that rewarded at most a mere 1% of the total population with nearly all the benefits of the entire planet’s natural resources? Many fools amongst the failed human experiment insisted to their dying breaths that consummate selfishness has always been the key to human success and survival. “Randian objectivism” the fools called this formalised apologia for greed. Boy howdy, were their charred corpses ever proven wrong since such thinking is exactly what led to their final inevitable decision to unleash nuclear hell upon Russia, which was left with absolutely NO alternative option but to launch their last quest for cosmic justice: their promised dead hand counterstrike. What else could these imbeciles possibly have expected? Believe that it will happen, fools, and just moments after Uncle Sam makes his last mistake in all of history that will end all history. Everybody KNOWS that they are entitled to the same universal rights and security. The Russians, the Chinese, the Iranians and numerous other civilisations repeatedly persecuted by America and its bullshit machine KNOW this as well as any registered American voter. Nobody is going to cede any of that to a bunch of hypocrites in Washington who praise these rights and freedoms to the high heavens and yet persistently and systematically attempt to deprive them from most of the rest of humanity. The only way any system of co-existence works over the long term is for YOU to treat your neighbor as you would demand he treats you. This reciprocity and desired, nay essential, equity (“fraternity, equality, liberty”) is where human beings repeatedly failed and why humanity no longer exists during whatever you alien beings choose to call this era far into our lost future.
I could not have stated the facts any better than you did. Great job, but all the idiots out there that get their morals from Hollywood and Twitter, don’t seem to be clued in to the realities of our present situation.
Great comments Realist. Your idea to record events reminded me of a film/documentary entitled “the age of stupid” by Franny Armstrong from 2009 starring Pete Poslethwaite. Whereas these records relate to climate breakdown and humans’ failure to address it, the idea is the same. I believe it can be found on youtube.
Amused to Death
We watched the tragedy unfold
We did as we were told
We bought and sold
It was the greatest show on earth
But then it was over
We ohhed and aahed
We drove our racing cars
We ate our last few jars of caviar
And somewhere out there in the stars
A keen-eyed look-out
Spied a flickering light
Our last hurrah
Our last hurrah
And when they found our shadows
Grouped ’round the TV sets
They ran down every lead
They repeated every test
They checked out all the data on their lists
And then, the alien anthropologists
Admitted they were still perplexed
But on eliminating every other reason
For our sad demise
They logged the only explanation left
This species has amused itself to death
No tears to cry, no feelings left
This species has amused itself to death….
-Roger Waters
????
I’m not sure where this quote came from, but it was my grandmother’s favorite.
“A man of words and not of deeds , is like a garden full of weeds.”
Spot on unfortunately, thanks
Realist, this is no mere comment that you’ve gone and posted. This is literature. To me, your piece sounds as if Kurt Vonnegut faked his death back in ’07. Very nice and well done, Sir. Or Ma’am, if that’s the case. God bless you.
Excellent live report! Thank you.
Great job all! Wish I could be there! Give ’em heII!
Don’t let speakers speak too long – make sure no more than 5-7 minutes apiece, says this old antiwar organizer. This is only the beginning of building the these-days antiwar movement.Love to you all!
Go with God, and be careful, I fear that the vile village in power will not be pleased
What gives you the impression than the US ruling class even knew there was an anti-war march? If they did, it would have given them something to laugh about. No doubt the few people who turned up felt they were “doing something” but if that thing was long predicted to be a pointless waste of effort – and it certainly was – then why keep doing that thing? I’ll believe there’s a start to an anti-war movement when there’s a general strike.
So, Rebecca, are you working to organize such a strike? And who would participate? Only “Lefties”? only “Righties”? or should all the folks who oppose these wars participate? And there are a lot of such folks, but if “Lefties” won’t join with “Righties” or vice-versa, who remains?
I have seen this so often – the “circular firing squads” that, it seems, the PTB can count on to self destruct …
One can argue that getting folks together for any cause is a pipe dream – but if more of us don’t start smokin’ that pipe, we will be the ones who get smoked …
Rubbing two sticks together can produce a spark – will we provide the tinder to sustain it …
Good analogy!
I don’t know of any antiwar movement that didn’t start with small protests. Do you really want to stop this one before it even has a chance to get going?
It’s got to start somewhere, somehow. It won’t be easy and may take years to grow into something formidable. Do your part.