Tells the Facts and Names the Names CounterPunch May 16-31, 2007 Alexander Cockburn and Jeffrey St. Clair VOL. 14, NO. 10 The Democrats A Day in the Life and Death of Motown

Collapse Again By George Corsetti Whatever Happened to Detroit. Seems the police were chasing suspected woke up about 3 a.m. to the sound carjackers and crashed. The suspects’ the Anti-war Movement? of automatic weapons fire. Three or hijacked car, also smashed, sits near the I four bursts, maybe a couple of dozen median. The police found guns in the car By Alexander Cockburn shots in all. It’s hard to tell where it came and believe the passengers were part of from – somewhere here, on the east side. a neighborhood gang. There must be 20 merica right now is “anti-war”, in We have a lot of pheasants, nesting where cop cars here, and you can see the police the sense that about two-thirds of houses once stood only a short distance are edgy as the crowd of onlookers gets the people think the war in Iraq from downtown. But this was probably larger. isA a bad business and the troops should an irate homeowner chasing a would-be As I get back in my car and drive a come home. Anti-war sentiment was a burglar or a drug deal gone bad. The sound few blocks home, I pass a lot of “for sale” major factor in the success of the Demo- of gunfire is common in Detroit – a little signs – lots of sellers, not many takers. crats in last November’s elections, when worse on weekends perhaps – so I roll There are also quite a few boarded up they recaptured Congress. The irony is over and try to get back to sleep. houses and houses that have no signs and that this sharp disillusion of the voters Daylight comes, and I get on the look like they might be occupied. But with America’s occupation of Iraq owes computer trying to catch up with a world they have high weeds in front instead of almost nothing to any anti-war move- that’s already in progress. Seems De- grass and on second glance it’s apparent ment. To say the anti-war movement is troit bus drivers are on strike, stranding the people just walked away from these dead would be an overstatement. But in some 120,000 riders. The bus drivers are houses. Detroit has the highest foreclosure comparison to kindred movements in the complaining about the lack of security rate among metropolitan areas – five times 1960s and early 1970s, or to the struggles - too many assaults on the city’s rickety the national average. Sub prime lending against Reagan’s wars in Central America substitute for mass transit and they want was rampant here a few years ago, and a in the late 1980s, it is certainly inert. cops riding on the buses. If you don’t have lot of people were living off home equity Of course, back in the Vietnam era a car in this city, you’re screwed. You loans, not to mention high-interest credit America had the draft. The imminent can wait for hours for buses that never cards. Those days are mostly gone, but possibility that one might be compulso- come and when they do, they’re filled the economic devastation they wrought rily drafted into the Army or the Marines with angry people. Detroit has the highest is only now becoming apparent. and find oneself in the Mekong Delta in unemployment rate in Michigan, a state Back on the computer in late afternoon six months concentrated the minds of with the country’s highest unemployment I read about the Democrats caving in to middle-class 18-year-olds on the horrors rate. Summer is coming with kids out of Bush and how the appropriations bill of war with marvelous speed, just as it school and on the streets. There are no won’t include a withdrawal timeline. The concentrated the minds of their parents. jobs for adults, let alone kids. The police war goes on. I’m still pissed that my “lib- Today there is no draft. It’s true that many have taken to arresting parents who can’t eral” senator, Carl Levin, voted against of the soldiers deployed in Iraq have been or won’t rein in their delinquent children. setting a timeline in the last bill. But he compelled to serve double tours of duty; Police stage perp walks for the media, must be a little worried with the election that others have been people facing crimi- with handcuffed parents being led off coming up because I see puff pieces in nal conviction and offered the option of to court – a desperate attempt to send a the local papers talking about how he led prison or enlistment in the army; that oth- message to other parents. the fight against the war and how some ers again are illegal immigrants offered a Coming back from downtown, I see so-called Washington anti-war group still green card or U.S. citizenship in exchange the TV news helicopters circling like loves him, even while the Michigan chap- for service in Iraq. But every member of buzzards over my neighborhood. As I ter of Military Families Speak Out holds the U.S. military in Iraq or Afghanistan get closer, I see people out on the street another demonstration at Levin’s office. is a volunteer – at least in the technical heading for the intersection ahead where Makes me wonder about his leadership (Cockburn continued on page 2) a police car is smashed and partly burned. qualities and whether he took a dive in 2/CounterPunch (Cockburn continued from page 1) Party that challenged Truman from the left (Corsetti continued from page 1) sense. in l948. A slightly younger cohort learned Summer is coming In the near future no U.S. administra- its organizing in the years of the Ko- tion will take the political risk of trying to rean War and the rise of the Civil Rights with kids out of school bring back the draft, even though lack of Movement. Old labor organizers rubbed manpower is now a very serious problem shoulders with Quakers and Unitarians. and on the streets. for the Pentagon. By the same token, the Then there’s the Vietnam generation, There are no jobs for absence of the draft is certainly a major many of them in their mid-60s now. More factor in the weakness of the anti-war than once, in the South, I’ve found that adults, let alone kids. movement. But though there was no draft the still-active sparks are former Maoists who deployed to places like Birmingham, his “fight” against the war. Sometimes in the Reagan years, there was certainly I think he worries about Israel too much a very vital peace movement opposing Alabama, as their revolutionary duty and who took root as civil rights attorneys or and Michigan too little. Reagan’s efforts to destroy the Sandinista And as evening sets in after a scorch- revolution in Nicaragua and to crush the public defenders or labor organizers. There are hundreds of overlapping ingly hot day in Detroit, I’m sitting out on revolutionary insurgency in El Salvador. a friend’s back porch sipping red wine and I remember well criss-crossing Amer- “lefts” in America, mustered in their sepa- rate struggles – for immigrants’ rights, for talking about Middle East politics and the ica in those years, giving anti-intervention endless war in Iraq when my brain slips speeches on campuses, in churches and public control of energy, against military recruitment. There are the anarchists, the a gear. And I vividly remember driving labor halls in scores of towns in pretty around Detroit in 1967 and seeing the much every state in the union. Almost ev- Trotskyite groups. And when a war comes along, as it does with great regularity in 82nd airborne patrolling the streets of the ery American town in every decade has its city. Their fatigues were a faded green, dissident community. At any rally you can America, they coalesce into an anti-war movement. They certainly did in the late bleached from the sun in that other end- see the historical strata in human contour. less war in Vietnam. Detroit has a lot less Up until a decade ago there would be 1980s. The other day I found in a box of old papers in my garage a directory to population now than it did in 1967. We’ve the old Communists, maybe veterans of slipped to 11th, as capital and population the Lincoln Brigade that volunteered to “sister-cities” – towns in the U.S.A. that had “paired” with beleaguered cities in follows profits. And the city is about 85 per fight for the Republic in the Spanish Civil cent African American with all executive, War. Into the late 1980s, these old fellows Nicaragua, exchanging regular delega- tions. The directory was as thick as a me- legislative and judicial posts overwhelm- were often the best organizers. Then there ingly black. But racism persists, and the would be anti-war activists like the late dium-sized telephone book. There were hundreds of such pairings. mostly white state legislature views the Dave Dellinger, who went to federal pris- problems of Detroit as self-inflicted. It on as a pacifist in World War Two. There There was just such a coalescing in the demonstrations against the WTO in doesn’t help that the state is on the verge were people who came of age politically of bankruptcy with state employees tak- with Henry Wallace and the Progressive the late 1990s, particularly in the actions in Seattle. ing unpaid holidays and the governor When Democrats in the U.S. Con- talking openly of releasing inmates from Editors gress in mid-March felt obliged to send the bloated corrections system. Even Jack Alexander Cockburn President Bush the message that he Kevorkian, Dr. Death himself, is about to Jeffrey St. Clair should bring the troops home before he be sprung next month. Economic despera- leaves office, they weren’t voting in the tion abounds in Michigan, but Detroit in Assistant Editor shadow of a mighty throng of protesters particular is devastated. Alevtina Rea cramming into the open spaces in front of But Detroit may just be on the cut- the Lincoln Memorial, their slogans rat- ting edge of the new economic reality. Business tling the windows of Congress. They were As the housing bubble bursts nationwide, Becky Grant voting in the shadow of the elections of gas prices and unemployment continue Deva Wheeler 2008, and eager to display in gesture, if to rise, disposable income falls and the Counselor not in substance, some acknowledgement dollar plummets, other major cities may soon join Detroit. What is absolutely clear, Ben Sonnenberg of a general anti-war feeling abroad in the land. even to the ruling class and James Baker Published twice monthly except one It looked, back in 2003, on the eve III, is that the country cannot continue to in July & one in August, 22 issues a of the U.S. attack on Iraq, that a vigor- pour money down that rathole in Iraq. If year ous anti-war movement would flare into Detroit is any indication, we are all very life. There were some very big rallies. But close to the edge and something needs to CounterPunch. across the four ensuing years, as the full be done NOW. CP All rights reserved. ghastly futility and destructiveness of the George Corsetti is a Detroit at- CounterPunch war has become more and more manifest, torney and filmmaker who, along with PO Box 228 the anti-war movement has got weaker. Jeanie Wylie and Richard Wieske, made Petrolia, CA 95558 a documentary filmPoletown Lives! about 1-800-840-3683 (phone) In late January 2007, the major anti-war the destruction of Poletown. He can be [email protected] coalition – United for Peace and Justice (Cockburn continued on page 3) reached at [email protected]. (Cockburn continued on page 2) 3/CounterPunch – held a rally in Washington, D.C. It mus- 2008, said schedule being nonbinding on weaker. Take Sam Farr of Santa Cruz, tered a respectable number of people. It the president. Bush duly promised to veto California, and Peter DeFazio of Eugene, featured Hollywood stars like Sean Penn all schedules for withdrawal coming out Oregon, both congressmen with large and Sixties icons like Fonda and her erst- of Congress, and did so at the first oppor- progressive constituencies. In the last Re- while partner, Tom Hayden. But it was, tunity. Meanwhile the war went on, with publican-controlled Congress they were alas, rather dreary, rather predictable. To a supplemental, Democrat-approved $124 stout opponents of the war, voting against be memorable and effective, an anti-war billion, more than Bush himself requested. authorization to invade and money for the rally has to be edgy, not comfortable. As Congress considered the half trillion war thereafter. No longer. Pelosi handed Emotions have to be high, nerves at least dollar FY 2008 Pentagon budget, there Farr bailout money for his district’s spin- a bit on edge, anger tinged with fear. It was no sign that the Democratic leader- ach growers, and DeFazio got funding for shouldn’t be just a picnic or a reunion. At ship would permit any serious attack on schools and libraries. Who knows? Per- the anti-WTO demonstration in Washing- further war funding. haps a few dollars of the latter will go to ton after the Seattle upsurge in the late Thus, when it comes to the actual war, wheelchair access for the paraplegics who 1990s, the police had orders to shoot to which has led to the bloody disintegra- will come home from Iraq over the next kill if things got out of hand. I doubt any tion of Iraqi society, the deaths of up to sixteen months, maimed in the war for cop had orders to shoot to kill in Washing- 5,000 Iraqis a month, the death and muti- which DeFazio just voted more money. ton, D.C., this last January. The political lation of U.S. soldiers every day, nothing Seeking to explain his “Yes” vote for temperature was way too low. at all has happened since the Democrats Pelosi’s war-funding bill, Farr issued a An absence from the speakers’ plat- rode to victory in November courtesy of press release saying, “This bill brings our form at that January UFPJ rally gives us popular revulsion in America against the troops home.” But he also told the San a significant clue to the weakness of the war. Bush’s reaction to this censure at the Francisco Chronicle, “They want to go anti-war movement. Ralph Nader was not polls was to appoint a new commander in gung-ho. They want to escalate in Iraq. So

I doubt any cop had orders to shoot to kill in Washington, D.C., this last January. The political temperature was way too low. invited, even though he is a major politi- Iraq, General David Petraeus, to oversee what would our ‘no’ votes mean?” cal figure on the left and a fierce critic of the troop “surge” in Baghdad and Anbar The real anti-war movement proved the war. Why was he not invited? Nader province. The Democrats voted unani- itself incapable of pressuring House Dem- is still anathema to many Democrats for mously to approve Petraeus and then they ocrats to hold out. As noted above, the his third party run in 2000, and again in okayed the money for the surge. Bush January 27 demonstration organized by 2004. Even though the war in Iraq is a hinted that he would like to widen the United for Peace and Justice did involve bipartisan enterprise, even though Demo- war to Iran. Nancy Pelosi, chastened by active lobbying of Democrats to hold crats in Congress have voted year after catcalls at the annual AIPAC convention, their feet to the fire, but the demo itself year to give Bush the money to fight that swiftly abandoned all talk of compelling was really a Bush-bashing session, with war, the mainstream anti-war movement, Bush to seek congressional authorization scant reminders that Bush’s war has been as represented by UFPJ, is captive to the to make war on Iran. and continues to be a bipartisan project. Democratic Party. Although nothing of any significance After the Bush veto, the Democratic To clarify the consequences of this actually happened on March 23, to read resistance has crumbled. Over in the willing captivity, we can ask a simple liberal commentators one would think House, Jack Murtha did his best, with a question. Has the end of America’s war on we’d witnessed some profound upheaval, plan for re-review every three months. Iraq been brought closer by the votes in courtesy of Nancy Pelosi’s skillful uniting But when this bill went into conference, the House of Representatives and the U.S. of the various Democratic factions. What Democratic support for Murtha was slim. Senate? On March 23, the full House vot- she accomplished in practice was the neu- Reason: the Democratic presidential as- ed 218-212 to set a timeline on the with- tering of the anti-war faction. In the end pirants in the Senate – Clinton, Obama, drawal of U.S. troops, with September only eight Democrats (plus two Repub- Biden – don’t want any sort of determined 1, 2008, as the putative date after which licans) voted against the Supplemental resistance to the war to prevail, courtesy of war funding might be restricted to with- Appropriation out of opposition to the the Democrats. So now they’re voting the drawal purposes only. It was not exactly war. The balance of 202 “No” votes came money without deadlines or reservations. a stringent deadline. It only required Bush from Republicans who opposed Pelosi’s In fact, the Republican call for withdrawal to seek congressional approval before ex- bill as anti-Bush and anti-war. So, in Con- to commence as soon as this September tending the occupation and spending new gress 420 representatives officially had (unless the U.S. position in Iraq improves, funds to do so. no problem with the war in Iraq continu- which it will not) is a fiercer challenge to So, the bill essentially adopted and ing until the eve of the next election. Ten Bush than what the Democrats have fi- enforced Bush’s war plan and attendant were foursquare against it, which is more nally managed. “benchmarks” as spelled out in his Janu- or less where Congress has always been, The Democrats’ reward for this shame- ary 10 speech. On March 27, the Senate in terms of committed naysayers. ful collapse? Perceived now as fraudulent voted 50-48 to start withdrawal in March Anti-war forces in Congress are now (Cockburn continued on page 6) 4/CounterPunch “Where did you cross?” I asked. Mis- understanding, she told me she was from Bringing the Border Wars Home Michoican, Acapulco. Her friend from By Andrea Peacock Guerrero. Pero, from donde did they walk? Cabeza Prieta? No, she said, understand- he sirens woke me up. The dogs men we had seen marched away. Donna ing now. Sasabe. ¿Donde es aqui? broke into a howl, abruptly as handed one a phone. I asked in my pig After they finished eating, I pulled Tthough it woke them as well. Gee, Spanish: ¿Necessita ayuda? One of the out a map. I pointed out Sasabe, down on that sounded close, I thought. Then the women gestured at the phone. I pointed the border, Tucson, and just to the south howls turned into barks, and Donna was to the nearly empty water bottle held by the mission at San Xavier. “La Misión,” I outside calling them in. the second. ¿Agua? They passed me their told her. “Aqui.” They were on their way A few moments later, shouts. Doug was bottles, and I took them inside, filled them, to Phoenix when La Migra caught them, out of bed, struggling with the inside-out grabbed a grocery sack and tossed some she said. From there, she was to join her sleeves of his robe, and I followed, tossing bananas and brownies in it. Back outside, husband in Atlanta. Her friend was destined on a T-shirt and pair of shorts. We joined the phone was not working. I handed over for Chicago. Donna on the back patio, where I peered the food, and Donna coaxed the girls in. More calls followed to Carmen. Doug around the corner of her orchid room and They had a phone number for some- left a message for a friend with some expe- caught sight of a uniformed man standing where in Mexico, but we couldn’t seem to rience in these matters, choosing his words on alert, next to a gray pickup truck. get a call through. Our neighbors across the carefully. We waited. It was Donna’s house, “He’s trying to keep them all cor- street were outside, talking loudly. “They and ultimately her choice. “I guess you ralled,” she said. “I’m just hoping the were just here!” I heard the woman call, have to have the courage of your convic- carport is still there.” a shrill note of excitement to her voice. I tions,” she said, then suggested showers, I went back inside to make coffee, then expected they would call the Border Patrol; the washing machine and fresh clothes. started out the front door for the paper. That’s when the Border Patrol van pulled up, and I noticed the cruiser sitting in our Their lives never cross with ours. The driveway. “I thought that sounded close,” I said to no one in particular. entire day, I realize, has been a gift. As we watched, the agent from the the cute blonde would be back. Using mostly nouns and gestures, I got the backyard marched four short, stocky men But the minutes ticked away, and no idea across, dug out a couple pairs of jeans, wearing layers of dark green and brown one pulled up. The girls gradually began T-shirts, sweaters and socks, and handed clothing, each with their hands on the to relax, removing their hoods, then their the pile over. Fortunately, they seemed to shoulder of the man in front of him, into jackets. They were a little older than I be my size – in fact, the jeans might well the van. Another agent appeared from thought – not teenagers. ¿Habla Español? fit them better. While they bathed, we around the garage and escorted four more the more assertive one asked me. Poquito, considered our options. out of the back of the cruiser. Four, Donna I replied. Very damn little – my restaurant We could put them on a shuttle to said, had gotten away. I saw our neighbors Spanish was not going to be much help. Phoenix, I suggested. But they don’t know across the street watching from their win- Donna called a friend of hers, a woman where in Phoenix they are going, Donna dows as well. here legally but not a citizen. This put her replied. In the back of our minds, though, The second agent, tall and blond, in an awkward, vulnerable position, but she we all knew they couldn’t stay long. The walked over to us and told Donna to call agreed to speak to our guests. When Donna Border Patrol, the neighbors, all knew the Border Patrol office if she noticed any got back on the phone, Carmen told her they’d been here. One of the neighbor’s damage. He was sorry about all the fuss, she would try calling the phone numbers children worked for the BP: chances were he said. It was the second time in as many the young women gave her, in the hope of good someone would call. weeks a truckload of illegal immigrants, finding someone who could give us a hint The younger woman finished shower- chased by BP agents, had turned off into of our next move. ing first, and we spoke while her friend these neighborhood streets, cutting through Donna urged them to sit at the dining took a turn in the bathroom. She knew no yards in hopes of reaching the dry Santa room table. One was a little older than English at all. ¿Tienes familia en Chicago, Cruz riverbed. the other and seemed to understand a few o amigos? Family or friends in Chicago? “No problem,” she said. “Is my carport words of English. They’d been walking I couldn’t figure out whether to use the still standing?” (she motioned with her fingers) en el familiar or formal tense, and kept switching Doug and I took our coffee and headed desierto para cinco días, she told me. Sin back and forth between the two. She didn’t back to bed, luxuriating in a few moments comida, sin agua. Walking in the desert for seem offended; I figured it didn’t matter. in which we had no other tasks. We had five days without food or water. Sí, una hermana. a good half-hour before Donna knocked: “Let me make you a little comida,” I ¿Como se llama? I asked. “How’s your Spanish?” she asked. replied. Anna. I threw a bathrobe on and followed We’d just had a big birthday party for Andrea, I replied, then pointed and her out the front door. Standing at the side Doug and the fridge was full of leftovers. said, Donna. of the house were two girls, dressed in I got some eggs, cheese and onions cook- Did I have any brothers or sisters? the same bulky camouflaged layers as the ing. Sí, one of each. 5/CounterPunch Donna had just been told by a neighbor (the one with the Border Patrol children) that a person could lose their car for transporting illegal immigrants. And Donna? in L.A. at 8:45 the next morning. I passed her husband not home. Could we wait till A brother, y nada mas familia. Solo this all along to Donna. Should I tell them? he returned at nine so she could talk to him hermano. I asked her. Sure, she said. about it? Then the dogs: ¿perro o perra? They were sitting in the dining room, I explained nine would be too late; that Perro, I said pointing to Kendall, then looking at the maps spread all over the we had no other options. Could we please to Zelda: y perra. I laughed to myself: it table. They had no idea of U.S. geography: put her niece on a bus bound for L.A.? With was the one word that always gave me where they were, how far it was to L.A., more thanks, she offered to wire money, trouble in high-school Spanish class. I Atlanta, South Dakota, San Antonio. These but we refused. They can do someone else never got the hang of rolling my r’s with all were far, we told them. L.A. the clos- a good turn, I said, feeling and sounding any ease. est. trite. Will they be stopped on the way? Will Another hour passed, with our guests I presented my idea: Greyhound, tia, there be checkpoints? I thought not and told sneaking brownies to the dogs, who now what did they think? her so, but that was just going to be out of adored them. Another call from Carmen Jessie was guardedly excited, explain- our control. yielded a phone number: the older woman ing my plan to her friend. Pero, she said, The 30-minute drive to Tucson felt (whose name we learned was something they only had Mexican money. We would unreal, like a dream or a movie. The unpronounceable, but we could call her buy the tickets, I replied, waving off her whole day has passed this way, as though Jessie) had an aunt in Los Angeles. She protests. I had no otro ideas – this was the the hours were lifted out of ordinary time. called, but got no answer. Her tia, she said, mas facile way. The easiest way. Okay, she Immigrants walk through the Santa Cruz was working. She wouldn’t be home till relented. But they must get a hold of her every night: we see their tracks in the pecan after six. aunt and let tia know they were coming. groves, find their belongings discarded It was the start of an option. Maybe we That gave us all afternoon to kill. Take a (backpacks, children’s shoes) and reason could put them on a Greyhound and deliver siesta, I suggested. Make yourself at home. that they must have had to run; we avoid them directly into auntie’s care. Blank looks. Si necessita agua, I pointed dense brush while walking the dogs, prefer- Donna had just been told by a neighbor to the sink, agua. Comida, I pointed to the ring not to disturb anyone hiding out during (the one with the BP children) that a person fridge, comida. Bano, bano. Todo. This the daylight hours. But other than these could lose their car for transporting illegal time they understood. With gracias and de signs, their lives never cross with ours. The immigrants. It’s not like she had one to nada, I retreated to the patio with a book. entire day, I realize, has been a gift. spare. Maybe we could give them a map, An hour later, when I walked into It was a dark ride, and the city lights let them hitch. the kitchen to get some water, Jessie said seemed to be floating, moving. Donna at The early hours of the afternoon rolled something to me. I caught some conjuga- (Peacock continued on page 6) by, the possibilities a sequence of waves tion of comer. Sure, sí. ¿Menudo? I asked. we rode. Calling La Migra, I reasoned to Pizza? It did not matter, so I heated up both, SUBSCRIPTION INFO myself, was an option that would serve only and they ate it all. We talked more: was Enter/Renew Subscription our convenience. I could imagine parts of Donna my sister? here: their journey: probably a long bus ride all No, ella es mi amiga. Vivo en Montana. One year $45 Two yrs $80 the way from southern Mexico, then the hot We were just here visiting. ($35 email only / $50 email/print) desert walk. They’d had to use tweezers to ¿Vacaciones? Jessie asked. One year institution/supporters $100 get the cactus spines out of their hands. I Sí. It seemed the easiest explanation. One year student/low income, $35 had hiked that desert – prepared with a full Jessie explained that she planned to T-shirts, $17 pack, on cooler days. You couldn’t help spend the summer in South Dakota. Do- Please send back issue(s) but brush up against cholla, and gopher ing what, I could not figure out. I told her ($5/issue) burrows turn the ground into a maze of la paisaje, la tierra es muy bonita, and instability. You break through the crust resisted the urge to suggest she drop by if Name constantly. What a monumental waste of in the neighborhood. energy to end up back where they had More hours passed, and they slept, Address started. curled together on the couch. Come If nothing else panned out, we could evening, Doug took the car on several test City/State/Zip give them a good map, bag of food, and runs, certain that the BP could be lurking turn them out at dusk. But I’d heard too in the neighborhood still. If they wanted Payment must accompany order, or dial many horror stories of those who take us, I told him, they’d knock at the door and 1-800-840-3683 and renew by credit card. advantage of women immigrants. This was tell us so. But it made him feel better about Add $12.50 for Canadian and $17.50 for no good choice. The Plan. At 6:30, tia was home. First Jes- foreign subscriptions. If you want Coun- I called Greyhound. Yes, there was a sie spoke to her, then handed the phone terPunch emailed to you please supply bus to Los Angeles tonight. No, my friends to me. The woman, Beatrice, thanked me your email address. Make checks payable would not need to show ID. It would arrive profusely, said her daughter was sick and to: CounterPunch PO Box 228, Petrolia, CA 95558 6 / CounterPunch ( continued from page 5) Peacock (Cockburn continued from page 3) by Clinton and Gore for the onslaught on first drove like normal, then checked her in their claims to oppose the war, their Yugoslavia and the inhumane sanctions speed. We did not need to get pulled over standing in the polls is as low as Bush’s. against Iraq. tonight. At the bus station, I went in first Latest news is that the American military In the Bush years we’ve seen a fur- and bought the tickets. The agent wanted presence in Iraq will double by the end of ther decline in any independent left with names: I was too tired to think on my the year. any unified theoretical and practical strat- feet and gave her my own, Donna’s too. Do anti-war “movements” end wars? egy or even political theory; also a rise in I scanned the waiting room: no police, no The Vietnam war ended primarily be- unconstructive and indeed demobilizing border patrol. It was, oddly enough, clean cause the Vietnamese defeated the Ameri- paranoia, as in the orgy of 9/11 conspira- and comfortable. We could all wait in here. cans, and because a huge number of U.S. cism. The campuses are sedate. The labor Back out in the parking lot we gathered troops were in open mutiny. At home, a movement is reeling. To describe the anti- their gear. Wearing my clothes, Donna’s The Vietnam war end- war movement in its effective form is re- makeup and carrying some old travel bags ally to mention a few good efforts – the and purses we pressed upon them, they ed primarily because anti-recruitment campaigns, the tours by looked like Americanas. I gave Jessie last the Vietnamese de- those who have lost children in Iraq, or minute instructions: I had gotten them on three or four brave souls – Cindy Shee- an earlier bus – they would arrive sooner feated the Americans, han, who single-handedly reanimated the than we planned. The bus would make and because a huge anti-war movement last year, commenc- some stops, altos, para mas gente, mas number of U.S. troops ing with her vigil outside Bush’s Texas personas. They should stay on. I had to ranch, or the radical Catholic Kathy Kelly, look up this last word: quedarse. She un- were in open mutiny. or Medea Benjamin and her “Code Pink” derstood. Donna bought a bunch of candy large sector of the society was in mutiny activists. and stuffed it – along with a change purse too. Anti-war movements are often most What were the big surprise demon- full of cash – in their bags. We hugged, and significant in their afterlife – schooling a strations in the U.S. last year? Quite sud- Jessie held me in a long, strong grip. Their new generation in attitudes and tactics of denly major American cities saw gigantic, bus was called; they headed for the door: resistance. What’s happened here in the militant demonstrations of immigrants puerto tres. We stood back, held our breaths U.S.A. across the intervening years since – mostly Hispanic. Their fury was at bru- as they passed the ticket taker, then waved Vietnam is a steady, unsurprising decline tal treatment and harsh new laws against one last time as they passed the window on in the left’s overall political confidence illegal migrants, without whose low-paid their way to board. CP and ambition and, as in the 1990s, a di- toil agriculture in states like California Andrea Peacock coauthored The Es- sastrous failure to attack the Democratic would come to a halt. The war wasn’t an sential Grizzly with her husband Doug. Party and Democratic administration led issue. CP CounterPunch PO Box 228 Petrolia, CA 95558 Phone 1-800-840-3683 for our new T-shirts and to purchase Coun- terPunch’s new book “End Times: the Death of the Fourth Estate”by Alexander Cockburn and Jeffrey St. Clair.