We're seeing a seismic shift in Middle East politics. TIME TO KICK THE ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT INTO GEAR!

[backscatter712]

The events in Egypt today, and earlier in Tunisia are focusing events that have fundamentally shifted the way things are going to work in the Middle East.

This could be as significant as the fall of the Iron Curtain and the Berlin Wall back in 1989, or like the Tet Offensive in Vietnam - it could change the way the people of the world view how things should be run in the Middle East.

It's time to end the rule of tyrannical dictators in the Middle East. Tyrants back by the U.S. in open contempt of American democratic values.

So you want to do something other than sitting on the couch, watching things unfold on Al Jazeera and Twitter?

Get back out on the streets with the anti-war movement! We've gotten a partial victory in the slow, but incomplete drawdown in Iraq. But the wars aren't over yet.

This is our chance to work to end the wars for good. With the shift in perceptions comes a chance to make it clear that the presence of our troops, our tanks and our warplanes are doing nothing to deescalate the turmoil in the region, and in fact are escalating it, all so the bigwigs in companies like Blackwater and Halliburton can rake in the bucks.

We know that it's been long past time to bring our troops home from Iraq, and we need to do the same thing in Afghanistan - otherwise, we'll spend yet more years in a futile game of Whack-a-Mole.

[mix]

1. Empires must war to survive.

The larger imperial context is what needs to be protested and destroyed.

But at this point any progressive protest sounds good to me!

[backscatter712]

3. A strong country can choose between democracy and empire. It's nearly impossible to have both.

I choose democracy.

[mix]

4. Empires poison democracies.

I agree with your point.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[snappyturtle]

5. But, but, but....wharever will we do with that gi-normous embassy

in Baghdad?

[Jackpine Radical]

6. Sell it to Disney, turn it into a theme park.

[snappyturtle]

7. !!!!!!!!!!!!

:rofl:

[Raksha]

9. LOL! You read my mind, or I read yours, or something.

I was thinking the exact same thing right before I scrolled down and read your post.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. The Empire (IMHO) just took a serious kick

perhaps deadly...

So the dynamics now are in full gear, and not like they want.

[DLnyc]

10. Good point. The revolution here would be to end the empire.

A move to democracy in the Middle East undermines the logic of the war machine and the empire. Coming at the same time as an economic crisis and budget constraints, this is an ideal time to re-awaken a peace movement in this country.

I am seeing Egyptians refuse to be cowed by Mubarak's implications that "it's me or chaos". Despite security forces there evidently actively sowing chaos, neighborhood patrol groups have organized to show that WE DON'T NEED FASCISM TO ENFORCE PEACE.

This, I think, is the lesson that Americans need to be educated on: it is possible for us to make peace with the world, if we overcome our fear of each other. Then we will not be subject to blackmail by those who, on the one hand, sow chaos, and then, on the other hand, tell us we must acquiesce to their oppressive methods for 'our own protection'.

Yes, peace movements can point to these (relatively bloodless) revolutions as pointing the way to a world beyond the false logic of oppression and war as guarantors of safety.

But Americans need to educate and learn not to fear each other.

Edit: oops, typo

[Raksha]

12. To me this has been the greatest revelation--you could even call it the greatest lesson

of the Al Jazeera coverage. I mean watching those groups of citizens organize themselves into neighborhood watch groups to protect their homes and families, seeing as they can't trust the police.

Re I am seeing Egyptians refuse to be cowed by Mubarak's implications that "it's me or chaos". Despite security forces there evidently actively sowing chaos, neighborhood patrol groups have organized to show that WE DON'T NEED FASCISM TO ENFORCE PEACE.

This, I think, is the lesson that Americans need to be educated on: it is possible for us to make peace with the world, if we overcome our fear of each other. Then we will not be subject to blackmail by those who, on the one hand, sow chaos, and then, on the other hand, tell us we must acquiesce to their oppressive methods for 'our own protection'.

[DLnyc]

14. Yes, I agree. Another example:

People chanting "Muslim, Christian, we are all Egyptian."

http://www.google.com/search?q=%23Jan25+site:twitter.com&tbs=mbl:1&tbo=1&num=100&hl=en&sa=G&biw=1280&bih=705&ei=_MdATZzzH8KVcYGg_Y0C&ved=0CF0QsQcwBQ#sclient=psy&hl=en&tbo=1&biw=1280&bih=705&tbs=mbl:1&q=Muslim%2C+christian%2C+we+are+all+egyptian&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&fp=84370c0a4914b96a

Also, the conquered look in the eyes of this young policeman, being kissed by a protestor:

http://theatlantic.tumblr.com/post/2979347100/canisfamiliaris-the-most-subversive-protest-of

When we learn not to fear each other, the merchants of war will be bankrupt.

[Odin2005]

11. Unfortunately most "anti-war" people were just anti-Bush. They are OK with it if Obama is doing it.

Something that is very obvious on DU. There are plenty of posters that are defending Obama doing the same warmongering as Bush.

The Anti-War Movement needs to be detached from partisan labels.

[former9thward]

13. +1000