NPR: Two Leading Anti-War Protesters Blame Both Parties

Two Leading Anti-War Protesters Blame Both Parties

Two people who have become known as leading anti-war advocates now believe their work was just a waste of time.

Andrew Bacevich and Cindy Sheehan wrote in separate pieces published during the holiday weekend that their efforts have changed basically nothing about the war in Iraq. And both of them blasted Democrats as much as they did Republicans when it came to responsibility for the war.

In an intense, moving column in Sunday's Washington Post, Bacevich wrote about the death of his only son two weeks ago in Iraq. As his son had served his country as a soldier, Bacevich had tried to serve it as a citizen, he wrote, giving voice to what he considered an ill-begotten adventure. He now believes the idea that the American people could end the war by saying no to it was just "an illusion."

President Bush, he wrote, "has signaled his complete disregard for what was once quaintly referred to as 'the will of the people.'" But Bacevich said he also feels the Democrats are now just as responsible for the war's continuation, joining hand-in-hand with Bush and "big business, big oil, bellicose evangelicals and Middle East allies."

Today, in a chat on the Post's site, Bacevich said America remains a democratic nation in a superficial sense, "But peer beneath the surface and the reality is something else again."

On Monday, Sheehan, who had protested the war since her son Casey was killed in Iraq in 2004, announced that she would protest no longer. She wrote on the Daily Kos blog that things became worse after she renounced all ties to the Democratic Party and started criticizing it, along with Republicans, for its stance on the war. The same people on the left who had first supported her activities turned on her with a vengeance, she wrote. "Blind party loyalty is dangerous whatever side it occurs on," she wrote.

But the final realization that Sheehan said ended her days as an active war protester was that her son died "for nothing."

3:42 PM ET | 05-29-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Based on their comments these two really should be recognized as clear-eyed patriots standing out from all the partisans on both sides. There are so many attracted to politics and to "speaking out" for little more than the pleasure of hearing their own voices.

Sent by Robert | 6:21 PM ET | 05-29-2007

What is important to remember now is we as a people, are to blame for everything that is and will happen in IRAQ from here on out as per Collin Powell etc Last weeks vote is just a perfect example of Gore Vidals' explanation that there really is only one party in the United States, the Property Party. And what a media rich in propaganda about it, it is.

Sent by Jim Richard | 9:16 PM ET | 05-29-2007

There is absolutely a need to reform the electoral system and change it from a "first past the pole" to a "proportional representation" system.
The two parties are interlocked and represent the extremist viewpoints of activist minorities instead of the broad majority view with the American society.

Sent by Amir Shoja | 11:02 PM ET | 05-29-2007

First it was the East India Trading Company, then it morphed into The Virginia Company, then into the people who chose their own and place them as "leaders" of the free world. It's the same people, the same money, the same game. Sad to see anyones illusions shattered by this ancient reality in such a seemingly abrubt way as the death of their children for The Company.

Sent by Bryon | 1:47 AM ET | 05-30-2007

There is hope, free speech, and as long as we ask the 'wrong' questions, these tools will not serve our citizens. Until we follow the money, demand the profiteers be punished and fail to speak plainly about the reaction to our actions 'we the people' will remain we, the exploited. The cost of our inaction will remain my son, daughter, neighbor and just as importantly, the victims of these unnecessary conflicts. I only pray my influence with my son will keep him from becoming the third generation of my family to serve in the United States Marine Corps. The day the Peace Corps has the same resources as the Corps I am proud to have served is the day the USA will become more about something other than war.

Sent by Jim Luzzi | 2:06 AM ET | 05-30-2007

The liberal "peace"-niks have exactly what they have been working so tirelessly for (along with the news media): another Vietnam - and they are wallowing gleefully in the blood. US foreign policy has been destroyed for generations, and our children will pay dearly for it. Fools like that let Hitler loose on the world. What's coming will be much worse.

Sent by John Kantor | 2:15 AM ET | 05-30-2007

The belief that this country is still a democracy borders on delusional.

Sent by John Company | 9:52 AM ET | 05-30-2007

Dear John Kantor
I think our country is at much more risk from the Christian fundamental right than "peaceniks". They are the war mongers and unfortunately, trying to create a climate like Germany in the 1930s in the U.S. now. We should all rise up against this threat everywhere.

Sent by Rose | 10:48 AM ET | 05-30-2007

I am deeply sympathetic to Andrew and Cindy's feelings of hopelessness and powerlessness. It's depressing as all get out to work and work and realize that all of your efforts have made little or no difference. All I can say is that no government, no matter how corrupt and tyrannical, can stand against the will of the people. Getting all of the people on the same page, however, is pretty much like herding cats. That's not to say it can't be done, but it is hard.

Sent by Robyn Russell | 1:24 PM ET | 05-30-2007

The target should have been the people who were behind the 911 attack and their organization. These kids who are loosing their lives everyday in Iraq are not fighting to the real enemy but for oil,big companies, supremacy and arrogance of some of our leaders.
Sadly more than 3000 soldiers have been lost in Iraq without knowing the real target.I believe the American Image has been lost and tarnished for ever and we have been badly exposed.

Sent by Anser Azim | 2:52 PM ET | 05-30-2007

America is responsible for more dead, maimed, or displaced Innocent Iraqi Men, Women, and Children than Saddam whom I believe to have been a Monster.

But it is criminal to destroy a country to elliminante a dog that bites.

For what we have spent in Iraq, not even counting the Lives and Limbs of Soldiers and noncombatents, we could have provided the world with safe drinking water.

The troops should be allowed to come home if they want to give them the choice,

The commander and chief can leave his job tomorrow why can't they.

Sent by Robert S. | 3:52 PM ET | 05-30-2007

Citizens, take your Prozac, drink a six-pack, smoke a joint, kick back and chill out - your government is in control.
Adolf Hitler: "Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it."
"As a Christian I have no duty to allow myself to be cheated, but I have the duty to be a fighter for truth and justice."
"The art of leadership... consists in consolidating the attention of the people against a single adversary and taking care that nothing will split up that attention."
Hitler was a Christian, a liar, and used Jews as adversaries - Bush is a Christian, a liar, and uses Islam as adversaries. Both parties have been bought by the "Masters of War."
Finally: "The very first essential for success is a perpetually constant and regular employment of violence."
Adolf Hitler

Sent by Josef Pfauntsch | 1:48 PM ET | 06-02-2007

Last fall, I had the privilege of taking a class taught by Professor Bacevich on U.S. Foreign Policy. In it, I learned a great deal from a truly gifted teacher, chief of which was that the relationship between the American people and United States foreign policy has rarely if ever been clear or direct. Indeed, one cannot expect each and every voter to have a cogent understanding of the complexities of international politics. This is something our leaders are well aware of. Be that as it may, when the people speak through the ballot box, they have a chance, in theory, to influence or even change their country's foreign policy, and rightly so. Unfortunately, my former professor is right; I don't think our politicians are paying any attention to the people at all anymore. I express my deepest sympathy for Professor Bacevich, for Ms. Sheehan, and all who have lost loved ones to this ill-conceived war.

Sent by Ryan R. Dudzinski | 3:59 PM ET | 09-28-2007

Here is a suggestion. Now that everyone is becoming aware that neither party has an exit strategy.....are we ready for the long and tough road ahead formulating a genuine third party?

Or, should I say, are we on the long road to formulating a second party to compete against the Republican/Democratic Party?

Basically, there's not much to lose in the '08 election, given this realization has come late in the game, and a third party candidate would have a hard time competing for the campaign money against the established big two/one. But, a protest vote maybe wouldn't be a bad idea. See how far it can go.

If a protest vote for a third party candidate in '08 looks promising, then maybe in the 2012 election a third party can make a bigger dent. These things don't happen overnight.

In the meantime, we have our wounded soldiers to think about. Funds have been drastically cut to the VA Hospitals. If we can't protest to stop the war, we can protest to get better medical help to our troops. Get help to their families who've sacrificed much.

The money you would have given to moveon.org for the antiwar advertising, give that money to advertise for better care for our troops. They fought for us. We need to do some fighting for them.

fred call

Sent by fred call | 10:30 AM ET | 09-29-2007

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