[NYTr] Phyllis Bennis and the Post-Modern Anti-war Movement

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

sent by Dave Silver

Dissident Voice - Aug 1, 2007
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/08/phyllis-bennis-and-the-post-modern-anti-war-movement


Phyllis Bennis and the Post-Modern Anti-War Movement

by Gabriele Zamparini

It's official. Phyllis Bennis, the spokesperson of the US peace
movement, stated, "the U.S. peace movement doesn't embrace
the Iraqi resistance. Right."

See: "Why the Anti-War Movement Doesn't Embrace the Iraqi Resistance: A
Response to Cockburn," by Phyllis Bennis (Alternet, Jul 31, 2007)
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/58410/?page=1

Bennis wrote, "I never supported Saddam Hussein, who was 'resisting'
the U.S. during the sanctions years, and I didn't - and don't - support
what is called 'the Iraqi resistance' today."

Note that "what is called." One could try stop for a second and reflect
why so many people use that "what is called" when addressing what is
called the anti-war movement Bennis now has become the official
spokesperson for.

The US peace movement's spokesperson explains why "the U.S. peace
movement doesn't embrace the Iraqi resistance":

[W]hat is understood to be "the Iraqi resistance" against the U.S.
occupation is a disaggregated and diverse set of largely unconnected
factions, in which the various often-antagonistic armed movements
(including some who attack Iraqi civilians as much as they do
occupation troops) hold pride of place. There is no unified leadership
that can speak for "the resistance," there is no NLF or ANC or FMLN
that can claim real leadership and is accountable to the Iraqi
population as a whole. There is no unified program, either of what the
fight is against or what it is for. We know virtually nothing of what
most of the factions stand for beyond opposition to the U.S. occupation
- and from my own personal vantage point, of the little beyond that
that we do know, I don't like so much.

The Western post-modern anti-war movement got to the point to decide
which resistance movement we like and which one we "don't like so much."

So now you know!

You, the resistance movements around the world that are resisting this
rapacious Empire whose fat belly we live so comfortably in, you must be
approved to have our respect, sympathy and intellectual support.

Approved by whom?

We shall create a special office for this task. We may call it the
Empire's anti-war movement's department for the right to exist of the
indigenous peoples. If you have a better name, please, send your
suggestions. We are tolerant and encourage politically correctness to
make you feel at home.

But please remember. We have become a little fussy, you know. Try to
look a little more like those resistance movements we so much admire in
those romantic Hollywood movies. And since you are at it, shave and get
a shower.

Let's go back to the peace movement's spokesperson.

On another point, she writes, 

As to our movement. Cockburn is wrong when he claims the peace movement
is dead. How does he think that 70% anti-war opinion he notes was
created? Certainly spontaneous opposition has played a part, based on
rising casualty figures from Iraq (unfortunately only U.S. casualties
seem to have this effect, not the enormously larger Iraqi casualties)
and the lengthening litany of Bush administration outrages. But the
peace movement's work has been critical as well.

Unfortunately indeed! Especially when it's that anti-war movement to
conceal the real extent of the horror the Anglo-American invasion,
[read: our leaders, our troops, our money, our will and our
indifference] brought into Iraq.

But the post-modern anti-war movement doesn't do resistance.

Bennis is even more explicit, I would say honest, in her realpolitik
approach:

"I don't think we gain strength by making sympathy with resistance
fighters a demand of our movement."

Indeed. To know why, please read my two pre-emptive replies:

"Once upon a time in Iraq. Money makes the world go around"
http://www.thecatsdream.com/blog/2007/07/once-upon-time-in-iraq-money-makes.htm

and:

"Once upon a time in Iraq. 
A Nobel Peace Prize for the Anglo-American  Peacekeepers?"
http://www.thecatsdream.com/blog/2007/07/once-upon-time-in-iraq-nobel-peace.htm


[Gabriele Zamparini is Editor of The Cat's Blog, and can be reached at:
info at thecatsdream.com. Visit Gabriele's website at:
http://www.thecatsdream.com/blog/index.htm .]