Because International ANSWER is running it once again. I have written before about why I dislike them.
But here's another reason which is rather interesting...
It is vitally important to the future of our nation to have articulate and passionate progressives leading on national security policy. Otherwise we will move ever closer to a militarized state. Our president and his cohorts in Congress are about to start fiddling with posse comitatus--the law that prevents the military being used for domestic law enforcement. While the issue deserves discussion, in the hands of this crowd, it's scary. Without progressive voices getting involved in the debate about lessons learned in Iraq, our troops will not get the training and preparation they need for future conflicts, humanitarian included. This would be tragic. Lacking pro military progressive voices, the anti-recruitment drive taking place across the country will be portrayed as the same old anti-military antics on the left. Yes, high school dragoon tactics are awful, bounties to join-up are a perversion of service. BUT, we civilians are the ones who put the military in this desperate situation. The buck stops with us, the American public. They are desperate because we've forced it on them.
Remember, the military will hardly ever say "no" to a request. They will do or die until the very end. This is why we love them but it is also exasperating for those of us who would like to see military professionals offer more expert advice to policy makers about how to share responsibilities with civilian agencies. But they are not the ones who will ultimately establish the limits placed on themselves. This is a task for civilian elected leaders. Progressives must be at the table, and soon.
Like the military itself, the average American citizen’s notion of national security is in transition. The Cold War framework of the nineties has given way to a new era defined by less discernable threats: terrorism, climate change, global pandemics, and a growing energy crisis. Because increasing numbers of Americans are aware of the need to do things differently, and are unhappy with the polarization of our political system, there presently exists a window of opportunity to reframe the public conversation away from antagonism and toward cooperative problem solving. In my opinion, this is what a true progressive should focus on.
The military and peace activists have much more in common than meets the stereotype. Both seek cooperation over conflict. Besides the pacifists, both want force to only be used as a last resort. These are long term strategies that can be dashed by the tactics of groups like ANSWER.
Please, somebody... give us a decent, focused peace movement! We
can't wait much longer!
