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 Monday March 03, 2003 02:46 by Billy
 We can attack eachother all day long, but wouldn't we be better off focusing on the upcoming War? The IAWM and the GNAW are at eachothers throats, meanwhile the likes of the Labour Party, PANA etc are willing to accept a war if the UN Security Council does. The fact that a UN resolution won't stop bombs killing civilians doesn't seem to register. The media and government try to talk up a Red Menace, with the potential to infect decent law abiding citizens, who everyone admits are anti war but seemingly not anti-government. It's a pity that both actions in Shannon didn't gather more numbers, and I suppose that at this stage its pretty obvious that there's some seemingly irrevocable differences between both sides but maybe instead of a fallout we should try and step back and see if the different groups can somehow work together. Divide and conquer only serves the State. The IAWM are saying that the GNAW cost them numbers, meanwhile PANA etc are trying to sideline anyone with revolutionary politics and are claiming that the turnout on Feb15 was down to the involvement of mainstream groups like themselves. They are like a mirror image of Mary Harney, a 'loyal opposition' trying their hardest to whip up a red scare, claiming that all the anti war sentiment is in line with their policies, and no-one else’s (Bertie tried something similar when he said that the marchers were broadly supportive of the government position). Dev used to claim that when he wanted to know the will of the Irish people he just had to look into his heart, they're trying the same thing. Most of the media coverage of the GNAW plans was actually fairly decent, by and large they just reported the details of the plan. The real scare was whipped up by PANA who sent out press releases and went on the radio and television to warn people about the imminent violence, and was added to by the cynical withdrawal of Labour, the Greens, SF etc. Their lack of support for even the IAWM march in Shannon shows that the reformists are as eager to stick the knife into the IAWM as much as the GNAW, all they want is an excuse. The people involved in the GNAW support a diversity of tactics, obviously the IAWM doesn't (or doesn't at the present moment). While I obviously disagree with that position I can accept it, I'm not even asking that people accept my belief that direct action is important, I'm just saying that I think we still have room to cooperate, to find some kind of common ground. Lets at least not stoop to the level of some of the more opportunistic groups and rather than attacking each other through the media lets see if there’s any way we can increase the pressure on the government.
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Comments (5 of 5)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5This is a level-headed and fair analysis, though your final paragraph where you criticise IAWM for allegedly not supporting 'diversity of tactics' is slightly problematic. The question is actually one of when is the appropriate time to employ particular tactics.
That said, I agree with the thrust of your posting. We all need to get back to business and not allow the events on Saturday divide us as a movement.
Here bloody here. let's move on, learn and strengthen from this. together
I took part in the GNAW direct action plan and I'm glad that the IAWM didn't back out of their decision to have a demonstration on the same day as ours. Even though they didn't stop or show any overt solidarity, the fact that they were there on the day was still reassuring. They could see that we meant it when we said that it would be non-violent civil disobedience.
From here on, I would hope that there is better communication between anti-war groups and that this is not done through the mainstream media.
The IAWM have laid out an action plan if the war on Iraq goes ahead.
On the Saturday following an attack on Iraq they call for a demonstration in Dublin.
I think this is a good idea (I don't care who's organised it !)
Another idea would be now to organise to call for another direct action at Shannon on the Saturday following the Dublin demo.
I think one of the reasons 'critical mass' for direct action wasn't reached at Shannon on Saturday was because of a general lack of awareness on what was going to happen.
Blame the media and other groups for tarnishing the protest (fair enough), but it's better to direct energies to promote the message of another mass direct action.
The p.d.f. on mass direct action for the March 1st protest was informative but by the time I downloaded it from indymedia to distribute it was too late.
A similar pdf calling for mass direct action on the second Saturday following the war would be helpful in making this possible action a success. If it was available 'pronto'.
I believe protest can stop the war, part of the deterrant should be to show that direct action will be taken if the Irish Government supports the disaster/event of war.
Every one to Shannon.
Let's all dance the can can!!!!!!!
Yawn
zzzzzzzzzzz............