Sunday, August 30, 2009

Antiwar Protests Getting Ready For This Autumn

Medea Benjamin, right, co-founder of the antiwar group Code Pink, protesting at the 2008 Republican National Convention. Robert Stolarik for The New York Times

American Antiwar Movement Plans an Autumn Campaign Against Policies on Afghanistan -- New York Times

A restive antiwar movement, largely dormant since the election of Barack Obama, is preparing a nationwide campaign this fall to challenge the administration’s policies on Afghanistan.

Anticipating a Pentagon request for more troops there, antiwar leaders have engaged in a flurry of meetings to discuss a month of demonstrations, lobbying, teach-ins and memorials in October to publicize the casualty count, raise concerns about the cost of the war and pressure Congress to demand an exit strategy.

Read more ....

My Comment: With the exception of Cindy Sheehan, the antiwar movement has been quiet this year. It looks like this is all going to change in the next few months. Will they have an impact? .... I would have to say that since they represent a good chunk of the Democrat base .... their impact will be noticeable.

Will they be covered by the main stream media .... this I do not know. The major networks and newspapers have been very "gentle" when it comes to President Obama's national security and war issues/policies. His deployment of 17,000 extra soldiers to Afghanistan received scant (if any) news coverage, and his commitment for more troops is also being passed over.

My only guess is that if tens of thousands of protesters do show-up .... this may change the dynamics .... especially among Democrat Congressmen/Congresswomen, and members of the U.S. Senate who are up for re-election.

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