War & Revolution: Baghdad 'Liberated', Did the Anti War Movement get it wrong?

Wednesday April 09, 2003 16:38

by [email protected] - Freelance Journalist

Media Coup for the US and UK govermnets, Europe waits for the 'I told you so'

Slowly the M88 armoured recovery vehicle of the United States Marine Corps moved into position underneath the nose of Sadam. Instantly surrounded and mounted by the media and the people of Baghdad, they were all waiting for Iraq’s Berlin wall moment in history.

As it turned out, Sadam took some time to pull down. A few sporadic shots of celebration, but eventually with hard work and effort, full of emotion and excitement, they managed to get their act together. He's a troublesome chap indeed, but eventually with the will of the people and the strength of the Marines, he came crashing to the ground. With this, the people of Baghdad will be declared "liberated" by the White House, the reign of Sadam appears like his fallen statue and the anti war movement is reeling from images of Iraqi's greeting the Marines with daisies and cigarettes.

But there was one resounding message from the people of Baghdad that will remain with me. 5 protestors, quickly realising their freedom to protest, hurriedly put together a small banner. It read;

"Human Shields - Go Home US W*****s"

A simple and stark message for US anti war activists in Baghdad. One would not like to be a member of the Human Shields in Iraq at the moment.

But what about the thousands of anti war Irish? Sure its agreed that war is ugly, but sometimes its necessary. Whatever the cause of the declaration of it, the credibility of he UN was left in tatters. So the question must be asked. Did the anti war movement underestimate the resolve and the attitude of the People of Iraq towards this action?

Whatever the answers are, there are a few things that are certain. The UN as a credible organisation has suffered badly at the hands of the US and UK, Ireland as a neutral nation is a laughing stock of Switzerland, The Gardaí have a lot of work to do before the summits ( http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=40667&start=130 ) and the people of Iraq and in revolution.

The coming days and months are crucial to Iraq, whatever the cause, be it right or wrong, is it not time now we support the people of Iraq as best as we can? But whatever happens, as a disillusioned anti war member, good luck to the people of Iraq, may you get to rule yourself and live the lives that you want.