# Millions rally against war: is that reason enough to delay or stand down? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 16, 2003, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millions-rally-against-war-is-that-reason-enough-to-delay-or-stand-down/155416 "2003-02-16T07:40:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millions-rally-against-war-is-that-reason-enough-to-delay-or-stand-down/155416/21 "2003-02-16T17:24:24Z")
**Beagle** , thankyou very much for the Link. I, like a lot of people on both sides of this debate are very conflicted by the choice, To use force to unseat Sadam or not. I could be wrong, but I have heard very little opposition to the silent war that rages on in within Iraq. The only countries that have challenged this ongoing terror is America and the United Kingdom, but even these two have lost interest at times depending on the perception of danger to their own security. I can understand opposition to Bush and Blair from within their countries because it is their son and daughters who will be put in harms way, but it irks me no end to listen to the anti-war protest from other nations in the world particularly the Belgians and the French. I can’t understand why they are so opposed to liberating Iraq which draws so many parallels with 1939 Germany. In any case why is the forceful termination of ongoing death and terror in Iraq preferable to a limited confrontation to remove this murderous regime? Thus the anti-war protest in the rest of the world holds very little credibility for me. I hope the Bush and Blair stay focused on the realities on the ground in Iraq rather than on the streets of Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millions-rally-against-war-is-that-reason-enough-to-delay-or-stand-down/155416/22 "2003-02-16T17:40:50Z")
The only photo I saw of the protests had a big A.N.S.W.E.R banner being held up by hundreds of people. I’m familiar with this group. It’s a collection of old-style Stalinists. And they’ve been the main organizer of the war protests, at least in the United States. Here’s their [web site](http://www.internationalanswer.org/). Examine their lovely policy solutions for yourself, and ask yourself if you really want to be associated with them. Me, if I felt strongly against something, but the protests against it were being organized by the Aryan Nations, I’d have to think twice about participating. To answer the OP… No, I don’t think a small minority should be able to go out and shout down government policies. We have other mechanisms for removing leaders who are doing things we don’t agree with. It’s called voting. ---
**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millions-rally-against-war-is-that-reason-enough-to-delay-or-stand-down/155416/23 "2003-02-16T17:52:56Z")
[in the peace movement.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=162324) Not that that is _necessarily_ bad. ---
**Author:** ![Mandelstam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Mandelstam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mandelstam)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millions-rally-against-war-is-that-reason-enough-to-delay-or-stand-down/155416/24 "2003-02-16T18:18:17Z")
**Sam** : Saw only one sign, in hundreds of photographs taken of millions of protestors worldwide? And it just happens to be of a group with a gnarly website. Shucks, too bad you weren’t in Vegas with that kind of luck! _No, I don’t think a small minority should be able to go out and shout down government policies. We have other mechanisms for removing leaders who are doing things we don’t agree with. It’s called voting."_ We also have polling, and it is not a small minority who opposes the Bush administration’s determination to go to war in the next few weeks with or without a UN resolution. It is the majority of people in the United States. It is the majority of people in Britain. Need I go on? ---
**Author:** ![JS\_Princeton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@JS\_Princeton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JS_Princeton)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millions-rally-against-war-is-that-reason-enough-to-delay-or-stand-down/155416/25 "2003-02-16T18:18:40Z")
There are truly many faces and a wide diversity of opinions within the peace movement. That rhetoric and differing causes will be talked about during rallies is only a symptom of the umbrella nature of the movement. No, everyone in the movement does not agree with everything that is suported by every group that works to organize rallies. But as there are about 250 or so different organizations that came together from all political affiliations, religions, ethnic groups, walks-of-life, etc. it is fairly hard to condemn _as a group_ the movement for the actions of an associated member organization. Coalition movements are haphazard and often contradictory. They unite for a common purpose but often spar on the details. But why should everyone have the same opinion as everyone else? ---
**Author:** ![Mandelstam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Mandelstam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mandelstam)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millions-rally-against-war-is-that-reason-enough-to-delay-or-stand-down/155416/26 "2003-02-16T18:19:23Z")
BTW, **grienspace** , not time write now to pen (type?) the more nuanced reply I’d like to offer you, but hopefully soon. ---
**Author:** ![Mandelstam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Mandelstam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mandelstam)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millions-rally-against-war-is-that-reason-enough-to-delay-or-stand-down/155416/27 "2003-02-16T18:25:17Z")
One more word to **Sam** , since I see something I’d meant to say got cut off. I don’t feel “associated” with A.N.S.W.E.R. simply because I join a protest that may include it or any other fringe group for that matter. They in no way constitute any kind of majority or dominant position; they were not the organizers of the New York rally or any other that I know of. For the same reason, I don’t feel “associated” with all of the posters on this board who may happen to share an opinion with me on one particular issue. As several posters have already made clear, both in this thread, and in **december** ’s risible thread on America First, there is no monolith, there isn’t even a “movement” as such. There are plenty of disreputable organizations who support the Bush administration’s stance on war. Do you feel like their “associate”? ---
**Author:** ![Mandelstam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Mandelstam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mandelstam)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millions-rally-against-war-is-that-reason-enough-to-delay-or-stand-down/155416/28 "2003-02-16T18:27:52Z")
J haven’t checked all links yet in this thread, but I’m pretty certain this one hasn’t yet been provided. > **[After a Weekend of Protests, Blair Looks Lonely (Published 2003)](https://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/16/international/europe/after-a-weekend-of-protests-blair-looks-lonely.html)** > > Britain's prime minister, Tony Blair, heads to Monday's European Union summit with little more than a sense of high moral purpose and an alliance with President Bush. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millions-rally-against-war-is-that-reason-enough-to-delay-or-stand-down/155416/29 "2003-02-16T19:00:11Z")
ANSWER wasn’t just present at these protests - ANSWER organized many of them. Did you read their web site? Oh, and ANSWER is an organization of the [Worker’s World Party](http://www.workers.org/). Not to be confused with the World Worker’s Party. Or the Judean People’s Front. ---
**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millions-rally-against-war-is-that-reason-enough-to-delay-or-stand-down/155416/30 "2003-02-16T19:02:50Z")
[Fox: Protesters Stage Massive Anti-War Rallies](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,78689,00.html) Note, Fox did not pretend like nothing happened. [Fox: Saddam Gloats](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,78716,00.html) > [@](#): > > BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq on Sunday gloated over the global outpouring of opposition to the U.S. threat of attack, saying anti-war demonstrations in dozens of countries signaled an Iraqi victory and “the defeat and isolation of America.” > > Iraq’s tightly controlled news media gave prominent coverage to anti-war demonstrations staged around the world on Saturday. Iraqi television showed footage of millions marching in the world’s cities – under the logo “International Day of Confronting the Aggression.” > > “The world said with one voice: 'No to aggression on Iraq,”’ read a headline in the government daily Al-Jumhuriya. “The world rises against American aggression and the arrogance of naked force,” read a front page headline in the army daily Al-Qadissiya. > > **"These demonstrations expressed in their spirit, meaning and slogans the decisive Iraqi victory and the defeat and isolation of America," Al-Jumhuriya said in a commentary.** [bolding mine] [CNN: World antiwar rallies delight Iraq](http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/02/16/sprj.irq.protests/index.html) > [@](#): > > …Iraq staged its own demonstrations on Saturday, when tens of thousands, many carrying assault rifles and portraits of Saddam Hussein, took to the streets of several cities to pledge their loyalty to the Iraqi leader in the face of U.S. threats to attack the Arab nation. > > “My message to the United States is that it should hear the voice of the international public opinion,” Aziz said Sunday, AP reported, before boarding a flight home from Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport after a three-day trip to Italy… [BBC](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/2742687.stm) > [@](#): > > Did you attend an anti-war rally? Why do you think it was important to be there? Or do you disagree with the aims of the demonstrators? Are the protesters right or misguided? [Washington Post](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14319-2003Feb15.html) > [@](#): > > The largest rallies were in London, Rome, Berlin and Paris – the heart of Western Europe – where the generally peaceful demonstrations illustrated the breadth of popular opposition to U.S. policies among traditional allies. But there were also protests in dozens of other cities on five continents, from Canberra to Oslo and from Cape Town to Damascus, in an extraordinary display of global coordination. > > In London, a sea of protesters estimated by police at more than 750,000 flooded into Hyde Park and clogged streets for several miles on a crisp, clear day in what observers and organizers said was probably the largest political demonstration in British history. It was aimed not just at President Bush but also at Britain’s prime minister, Tony Blair, who has been Bush’s staunchest ally in the campaign against Iraq but who is besieged by opposition at home from virtually every part of the political spectrum. > > Blair, in a speech earlier in the day, insisted he would stand his ground. But he also said Britain would wait for the next interim report from U.N. inspectors on Feb. 28 before seeking a Security Council resolution authorizing military action. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millions-rally-against-war-is-that-reason-enough-to-delay-or-stand-down/155416/31 "2003-02-16T19:46:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by China Guy \* > \*\*For the British dopers, if this was the largest protest in the history of Britain, how do the numbers match up to a Wembly football match? Not busting chops, just curious. > > If nothing else, i think that the protests show that the way in which Bush, Blair, et al have _marketed_ the case for war was a dismal failure. Bush was elected by one of the best marketing machines known to man, but you had protests probably unparalleled in the US since Viet Nam. and that is saying something. > > Heck, the introduction of registration for the draft in 1980 was almost a non-event in terms of protest. The Anti-apartied movement was limited almost exclusively to the 17-21 age set of students, and never hit numbers like yesterday. \*\* If we assume 1,000,000 (official estimate 750,000 but ignored those who went straight to Hyde Park, and made by police who habitually under-report, organiser and several newspaper est of 2 milliion) it is 10 - 20 times Wembly capacity, or for 1 mill it is 1 in every 60 man woman and child in the UK, or for 1-2 mill the equilavent of 6-12 million marching in NY, adjusted for pop. The biggest demo of all time in the UK and quite enough to demand we are listened to. One in every 60 or one in every 30 people in the UK, depending on the figure, travelled to the capital of the UK to say No to war. That is overwhelming by any standard, attempts to trivialise it by comparison with sports events notwithstanding. Point of info. size of Pro-war demo’s around the country = 0 (police estimate 287 million) so don’t give us that tired crap about it ain’t a majority. When the poeple speak like this in a democracy politicians have to listen whether or not they think us correct otherwise it ain’t worth the name. As a life-long Labour supporter I guarantee I will never, ever, voe for them again if blair proceeds with this war and you can be sure i’m bot alone in this. Blair is finished if he ignores this protest like the Poll Tax protests finished Thatcher. ---
**Author:** ![Mandelstam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Mandelstam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mandelstam)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millions-rally-against-war-is-that-reason-enough-to-delay-or-stand-down/155416/32 "2003-02-16T20:22:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\*ANSWER wasn’t just present at these protests - ANSWER organized many of them. Did you read their web site? > > Oh, and ANSWER is an organization of the [Worker’s World Party](http://www.workers.org/). > > Not to be confused with the World Worker’s Party. Or the Judean People’s Front. \*\* Did you read my post? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millions-rally-against-war-is-that-reason-enough-to-delay-or-stand-down/155416/33 "2003-02-16T21:12:55Z")
Yes, I did. You said that they were not the organizers of any rally that you knew of. I responded by pointing to their web site, which shows that they organized many of the rallies, or at least were prime movers. But that’s all I was trying to say. Certainly, you can’t be held responsible for the views of ANSWER. In fact, if I were someone who was opposed to the war I’d be pretty annoyed that these stalinist, free Mumia types were involved. ---
**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millions-rally-against-war-is-that-reason-enough-to-delay-or-stand-down/155416/34 "2003-02-16T21:41:15Z")
[CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/02/16/sprj.irq.us.un/index.html)US talks tough, Iraq flouts inspections, French vacillate, again. > [@](#): > > …“Some [nations] gave him [Iraqi President Saddam Hussein] the impression Friday that he can play this game,” Rice told NBC. > > “The coalition of the willing is preparing,” she told Fox. "We are in a period now, a diplomatic window, in which we should be discussing how the Security Council can best carry out its obligations. > > “But Saddam Hussein shouldn’t read into what he’s seen over the last couple of days that somehow he’s going to get away with it again.”… > > …Speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” (French ambassador to the United States) Lafitte cited the discovery and destruction last week of 10 artillery shells filled with mustard gas – cataloged by previous inspection teams but not destroyed before they left Iraq in 1998 – and a report that declared Iraq’s Al Samoud 2 missiles were not in compliance with U.N. rules and must be destroyed. > > The Iraqis responded that they would not destroy their Al Samouds after the report found that they exceeded the allowable range of 150 kilometers (93 miles) by about 30 kilometers (18 miles). > > Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz scoffed at the idea, saying the missiles were not capable of reaching “any country around Iraq.”… ---
**Author:** ![Mandelstam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Mandelstam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mandelstam)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millions-rally-against-war-is-that-reason-enough-to-delay-or-stand-down/155416/35 "2003-02-17T01:15:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\*Yes, I did. You said that they were not the organizers of any rally that you knew of. I responded by pointing to their web site, which shows that they organized many of the rallies, or at least were prime movers. > > But that’s all I was trying to say. Certainly, you can’t be held responsible for the views of ANSWER. In fact, if I were someone who was opposed to the war I’d be pretty annoyed that these stalinist, free Mumia types were involved. \*\* 1. Your website shows that they were promoting February 15th as a protest day. Unless I missed something I was supposed to see, it did not name ANSWER or WWP as the organizers of any specific 2/15 rally. 2. There has been discussion about WWP’s role in organizing some protests in the past in, for example, the _Nation_, including bad decisions made by them in the past as to speakers etc. I am aware of the group as one that has caused some debate in left circles: they are experienced organizers but their agenda doesn’t reflect the majority of people likely to join an anti-war protest at the present moment. However, the New York rally was not organized by ANSWER or WWP; and there were literally hundreds if not thousands of groups involved. Whether any major 2/15 rally was organized either by WWP or by ANSWER I cannot say b/c I do not know. But I do know that 2/15 had been marked far and wide as a day of worldwide protests. I saw e-mails from groups such as Not in my Name, Move On, as well as various teachers groups and environmental groups that tend to reach my notice. If I happened to live in a city where WWP/Answer happened to have been the ones to get the permit from the city for a 2/15 protest it would not have deterred me from joining this worldwide statement. Why? Because it is not in the nature of a worldwide protest involving hundreds of thousands in large cities and millions worldwide to feel responsbile to every single group that may be involved–even if that group got the permit. The overarching message of the protests was no war now: depending on the individual that might mean no war ever, no war without a UN resolution, no war until inspections have been given a chance, etc. etc. Now, since I’ve given you a second and more thorough answer to a point you raised by you, perhaps you’d like to comment on the rest of my post. How about a reply to this part: \*_…t is not a small minority who opposes the Bush administration’s determination to go to war in the next few weeks with or without a UN resolution. It is the majority of people in the United States. It is the majority of people in Britain. Need I go on?_ **Beagle** , are you trying to this thread into your own news service? A replacement for Agence France Press, perhaps? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2003, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millions-rally-against-war-is-that-reason-enough-to-delay-or-stand-down/155416/36 "2003-02-17T02:46:17Z")
According to Tomndebb in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=163486), ANSWER was involved in organizing the San Francisco rally, but not the New York rally. But you know, in that same thread I listed all of the affiated organizations for the ‘Stop The War’ coalition, and it’s the same motley collection of old stalinists, communists, socialists, ‘anti-racism’ organizations that make up ANSWER. Do you know who organized the New York protest? ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2003, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millions-rally-against-war-is-that-reason-enough-to-delay-or-stand-down/155416/37 "2003-02-17T03:00:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\*Do you know who organized the New York protest? \*\* A friend who participated told me that MoveOn was the organizer or, at least, one of the organizers. MoveOn is an internet-based organization, originally formed to defend Bill Clinton, when he was impeached. I presume MoveOn must be closer to the Democratic Party than to some radical organization. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millions-rally-against-war-is-that-reason-enough-to-delay-or-stand-down/155416/38 "2003-02-17T03:17:39Z")
> [@](#): > > How about a reply to this part: …_t is not a small minority who opposes the Bush administration’s determination to go to war in the next few weeks with or without a UN resolution. It is the majority of people in the United States. It is the majority of people in Britain. Need I go on?_ Well, that depends on how you read the polling numbers. The latest polls I’ve seen show that if you ask the basic question, “Do you support the administration’s plans for war against Iraq”, the support is somewhere between 60-70%, which is astoundingly high. On the other hand, if you ask, “Should the U.S. go to war against Iraq even if it has to act alone”, support drops to well below 50%. But, if you ask, “Should the U.S. go to war without the security council, as long as it still has a large coalition?” support is almost as high as the first question. When people are asked questions like, “Do you think Saddam has weapons of mass destruction”, or “Do you think Saddam is in violation of UN resolutions”, you get support up in in the 80 percent range. Here’s an interesting [UK poll](http://www.channel4.com/news/2003/02/week_2/11_poll.html) which highlights the confusing nature of the polls. Look at these weird results: > [@](#): > > We asked - true or false: Saddam has chemical and biological weapons. 74% the vast majority think that is true. > > He’s hiding weapons from the UN - 71% believe that. > > Saddam has strong links to Al Qaeda? Only 33% think that’s true - 34% say it’s false the remainder said they didn’t know. > > Last Wednesday US Secretary of State Colin Powell played America’s propaganda trump card at the UN. The Iraqis dismissed it as a stunt. > > Was Britain convinced? > > 62% of people did not think his evidence amounted to proof that Saddam has weapons of mass destruction. > > But look at this: 21% of the public - thats one in five - thought his evidence was fabricated. I am absolutely baffled how 74% of the people can think that Saddam has forbidden chemical and biological weapons, 71% believe he’s hiding weapons from the U.N. inspectors, and yet 62% of people didn’t think that Colin Powell’s evidence was reasonable proof, and 21% thought he was faking his evidence. I guess the real variable we’re seeing there is dislike of the U.S., and not the belief that Saddam has WMD. But look at this: > [@](#): > > So would a second UN resolution do the trick? If Tony Blair had UN backing for war instantly his problem would be solved 82% would back military action. Without any UN support only 28% would back an attack alongside the Americans. > > But here’s something very interesting - if Tony Blair got a majority of the Security Council to back military action - even if one or two countries vetoed a second resolution - 62% would go to war. The most reasonable way to read that data is that the British people Believe that Saddam is a problem and would support a war in massive numbers with a UN SC resolution. However, if they had SOME UN support, but not a resolution, 62% of the people support a war. I think this reveals a sophistication about what the French are up to. The British people are ready to discount the French. They’re saying, “Look, if it seems that France is the only stumbling block here, we’ll still support a war.” But clearly, with responses all over the map like this, partisans on both sides can find just the right combination of questions to ‘prove’ whatever they want to prove. ---
**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2003, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millions-rally-against-war-is-that-reason-enough-to-delay-or-stand-down/155416/39 "2003-02-17T03:23:27Z")
As much as I love to point out that unreconstructed Stalinists are playing a prominent role in the peace movement - and I do - it really does not matter. If the support is broad based enough, the organizers become somewhat irrelevant. Unless one believes that the WWP of Judea somehow hoodwinked everyone, all millions of them, to show up. > [@](#): > > **Mandelstam** : Beagle, are you trying to this thread into your own news service? A replacement for Agence France Press, perhaps? I’ve had some discussions about whether the mainstream press covers the peace movement fairly. I’m just pointing out that the demonstrations got maximum coverage from all the news outlets, whatever the supposed slant. I thought one post with links to all the gushing press would hearten some jaded folks around here. ---
**Author:** ![Mandelstam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Mandelstam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mandelstam)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2003, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millions-rally-against-war-is-that-reason-enough-to-delay-or-stand-down/155416/40 "2003-02-17T03:45:12Z")
I _think_ the New York rally was organized by a group called United for Peace, in collaboration with another group called Peace Action. I don’t know where **tom** ’s info comes from but according to [this](http://www.peace-action.org/home/febrally.html) Peace Action website, they may have been organizers of San Francisco’s event as well–or perhaps just promoters like so many other groups. Here is the website for [United for Peace](http://www.meer.net/uofp/). [This British group](http://www.stopwar.org.uk/) the Stop the War Coalition, claims to have organized the London rally along with two other groups: the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and the Muslim Association of Britain (links are available). I have received some impressive e-mails from this recent New York-based group, [Not in Our Name](http://www.notinourname.net/). This group, [MoveOn](http://www.moveon.org/) has been successfully raising money in order to air anti-war TV commercials. [Peaceful Tomorrow](http://www.peacefultomorrows.org/), a group begun by families of 9/11 victims claims to have been among the lead speakers at both the New York and San Franciso rallies. I could devote much more time to this, but I think you’ll see enough here to realize that not every organization involved in protesting the war is linked to or particularly invested in the WWP. Indeed, if I’m not mistaken the Vatican has come out against the war. If so,do you think that the Pope is now “associated” with ANSWER? And now perhaps you might want to comment on the simple fact that even putting these unprecedented protests aside, this is a very unpopular war: lacking unconditional support amongst a majority even in the United States. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millions-rally-against-war-is-that-reason-enough-to-delay-or-stand-down/155416.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/millions-rally-against-war-is-that-reason-enough-to-delay-or-stand-down/155416.md?page=3)