Hey Bobert, your mention of ANSWER made me smile. I was cleaning up my bookmark files the other day, and came across a folder I had titled 'Lukewarm Left opposition to ANSWER'. So I started reading this and it brought into much clearer focus for me how screwed we have been by the so-called peace movement.

The middle class liberal peace movement demonized the leadership of ANSWER, which is much more militant and supportive of direct action (and much clearer on their political stands on issues, I might add) in order to the appease the Democrats, and co-opt any genuine and effective protest movement from growing out of opposition to the war that could cause the Democrats trouble in this year's election. As far as I'm concerned, Moveon.org can kiss my ass.

The co-opting of the peace movement was extremely effective. They were able to take credit for ANSWER's organizing with international radicals, to get millions of people to feel good about themselves when they poured into the streets to protest the war, and then stand by helplessly wringing their hands while they watched the invasion on tv.

The one thing the mainstream liberal peace movement is really good at is co-opting the radical left and maintaining the status quo by demonizing them. The one thing they really suck at, is stopping imperial wars, checking the powers of the global police state, stopping pollution, stopping hunger, stopping exploitation of people and the planet, that sort of thing.

But they DO feel positive about themselves.