I don't see peace demonstrations stopping the current war phase in Iraq, unfortunately, but I would still encourage people who disagree with the Bush Administration's rationale for this war to participate in them, and be proud to do so! Maybe in this way we can curb some of the Administration's more "imperialist" plans for postwar Iraq, help insure that administration of the country be shifted to the UN or at least some broader coalition than the US, the UK, Australia, and an amazing collection of less than major nations (i.e., Ethiopia and Eritria!) that are willing to have their names added to the support roster.

Sure, such protests will raise questions in the minds of our troops in Iraq, and many will be righteously pissed. But they should know that the justification for this war was questioned before war started and continues to be questioned.

Sure, such protests will provide some comfort to what remains of the Iraqi leadership, but pretty cold comfort as their world continues to be blasted apart around them. They should surrender unconditionally but that doesn't seem to be their end-game.

And I don't doubt for a minute that participants of such protests will become increasingly villified in the press, and added to Ascroft's ever-growing list of disloyal citizens and non-citizens.

What do you think, Amos and Mick, am I totally off-base?

Peace,
Charley Noble